back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 14377

[from 'A Powers Theory of Modality' by Jonathan D. Jacobs, in 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 10. Impossibility ]

Full Idea

To be possible is just to be one of the many manifestations of some power, and to be impossible is to be a manifestation of no power.

Gist of Idea

Possibilities are manifestations of some power, and impossibilies rest on no powers

Source

Jonathan D. Jacobs (A Powers Theory of Modality [2010], §4.2.1)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophical Studies' [-], p.14


A Reaction

[This remark occurs in a discussion of theistic Aristotelianism] I like this. If we say that something is possible, the correct question is to ask what power could bring it about.