Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Possibility, philosophy: something is possible if it cannot be excluded. This has to be distinguished from the concept of contingency that expresses that something could have been different._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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G.W. Leibniz on Possibility - Dictionary of Arguments
Holz I 102 Def reality/Leibniz: reality corresponds to the active moment of the force. An effective one. Definition possibility/Leibniz: possibility corresponds to the passive moment, one that did not come to the utterance. To be distinguished from this is: Def ability/Leibniz: (potentia, puissance): this is a positive equipment of the substance with the specific content of the tendency to achieve its realization. I 103 The action itself and the ability for it are merely different states of one and the same moment of existence. The active force provides the transition. This requires only the removal of an inhibition. The mere ability is the endurance of an inhibition. But this is only possible if the ability itself exists as active striving. Suffering is therefore a moment of action itself in the mode of inhibition. >Reality/Leibniz, >Existence/Leibniz, >Necessity/Leibniz. Perfection/Leibniz: therefore, it also makes sense to say that perfection is gradual. Depending on how much factual possibilities are achieved. Possibility/Leibniz: is not realized. It is the opposite of reality. Possibility/Megaricans/Megara/Holz: Megaricans let the possible coincide with the impossible: because it is not realized. I 104 That which is not real is impossible! Holz: this is correct as long as one abstains from time. Thus, one can regard Leibniz's force as a mediation between possibility and reality. I 106 Possibility/Leibniz: Possibility is always equipped with the active force to strive for reality. Otherwise nothing would exist. One cannot say with reason "certain possibilities" would have the tendency, "others" would not have it. Force/Leibniz: is the act of ability endowed with striving. Reality/Leibniz: there are (infinitely many) gradations between possibility and reality. >Possible world/Leibniz._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Lei II G. W. Leibniz Philosophical Texts (Oxford Philosophical Texts) Oxford 1998 Holz I Hans Heinz Holz Leibniz Frankfurt 1992 Holz II Hans Heinz Holz Descartes Frankfurt/M. 1994 |
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> Counter arguments against Leibniz
> Counter arguments in relation to Possibility
Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-20