Possibilism (philosophy)

Possibilism ( lat . Possibile - “possible”) is a philosophical discourse on issues related to (1) the ontological status of the possible, its relationship with other ways (modes) of being - real and necessary, impossible, invalid and random, as well as (2) with the reflection of these relations in logic and language (aletic modalities ). Possibilism is also considered as the antithesis of actualism.

The teachings of ancient atomic philosophers on the multiplicity of worlds and the principle of “isonomy” (equality of all worlds), as well as Aristotle ’s teaching on “existing in possibility”, developed later in the writings of the scholastics, are considered to be the sources of discourse. Questions about the nature of the possible are highlighted in the writings of European philosophers of the 15-19th centuries, such as D. Bruno , N. Kuzansky , R. Descartes , G. Leibniz , I. Kant , A. Schopenhauer , B. Bolzano, A. Meinong , F Brentano , E. Malli et al.

Particular attention to posibilism in the 20-21 centuries. and its transformation into a holistic philosophical doctrine is due to a general change in the humanitarian paradigm in the 20th century, focusing on issues related to the ontology of the possible, potential, probable, virtual and abstract.

In modern posibilism, the following main approaches to determining the nature of the possible are distinguished:

1. Within the framework of nominalism ( B. Russell , A. Tarski , R. Karnap , W. Quine , L. Wittgenstein and others) it is believed that the referent of the possible should be sought exclusively in the language.

2. In the framework of conceptualism (R. Descartes, I. Kant, F. Brentano, N. Resher, etc.) it is believed that the logic of our thinking is such a referent.

3. From the position of conceptual realism, the referent of the possible is God as “being-possibility” (N. Kuzansky), “Divine Mind” (G. Leibniz).

4. Within the framework of realism (A. Meinong, E. Malley, J. Findley, T. Parsons, B. Schneider, K. Popper , etc.), the possible has a special status - it belongs to the sphere of out-of-being (eg. , the world of “ things in themselves ” by I. Kant, “Außersein” by A. Meinong, “potentiated being” in Simultan history). In the framework of this approach, it is proposed to distinguish between being and existence (an object can be, but not exist; that is, everything is, but not everything exists).

5. Within the framework of modal realism ( S. Kripke , J. Hintikka , D. Lewis , etc.), it is argued that the modalities of logic and language reflect the realities of possible worlds that exist as real as our world, although we consider these worlds only possible. In this approach, it is proposed to distinguish between being / existence and reality (an object can exist, but not be real; that is, everything exists, but not everything is real).

6. Within the framework of the methodological approach ( M. Epstein ), the referent of the possible is not exclusively language, thinking or being; each of these areas contains its own capabilities and can be considered in its potentiality; the possible is not only the subject of research, but also the basis of the methodology that can be applied to any object (the principle of reversibility of the subject and method).