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Full Idea
The possession of a potentiality just is the possession of a potentiality to act, and such a potentiality is not unconditional but depends on the obtaining of propitious circumstances, which includes the satisfaction of a ceteris paribus condition.
Gist of Idea
Potentialities are always for action, but are conditional on circumstances
Source
Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1048a18)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.264
A Reaction
This seems to be pretty exactly what we mean by a 'power', as something which requires no other driving force, but which only expresses itself with the endless complexity of the rest of nature.
15777 | A 'potentiality' is a principle of change or process in a thing [Aristotle] |
15778 | Things are destroyed not by their powers, but by their lack of them [Aristotle] |
14544 | Potentialities are always for action, but are conditional on circumstances [Aristotle] |
15774 | We recognise potentiality from actuality [Aristotle] |
11254 | Matter is potentiality [Aristotle, by Politis] |
12250 | Bodies have act and potency, the latter explaining new kinds of existence [Oderberg] |
23705 | A potentiality may not be a disposition, but dispositions are strong potentialities [Vetter, by Friend/Kimpton-Nye] |
19009 | Potentiality does the explaining in metaphysics; we don't explain it away or reduce it [Vetter] |
19019 | Potentiality is the common genus of dispositions, abilities, and similar properties [Vetter] |
19022 | Water has a potentiality to acquire a potentiality to break (by freezing) [Vetter] |
19025 | Potentialities may be too weak to count as 'dispositions' [Vetter] |
19027 | Potentiality logic is modal system T. Stronger systems collapse iterations, and necessitate potentials [Vetter] |
19031 | There are potentialities 'to ...', but possibilities are 'that ....'. [Vetter] |