Impossibles

Impossibles is the plural form of impossible and is used in different domains to refer to things that cannot be done, cannot be true, or are considered extraordinarily difficult under certain conditions. In everyday language, impossibles describe goals, feats, or outcomes that defy practical or theoretical constraints.

In philosophy and logic, impossibles are categorized by the kind of impossibility they represent. Logical impossibilities are propositions that cannot be true under any interpretation (for example, a square circle). Physical or metaphysical impossibilities refer to outcomes that contradict the laws of nature or established theoretical frameworks. Distinctions are often drawn between what is merely unlikely and what is impossible within a given system of thought.

In mathematics and the formal sciences, the term is used informally to describe results or constructions that are provably unattainable under a specified set of axioms, or paradoxes that reveal limits of certain theories. Discussions of impossibles frequently intersect with modal logic, set theory, and proof theory.

In popular culture, The Impossibles is the title of a 1960s Hanna-Barbera animated television series featuring a team of superheroes. The term also appears in various media to denote exceptionally challenging tasks, puzzles, or feats, sometimes used to frame ambitious goals or near-impossible problems.

In practical contexts such as engineering, sports, or problem solving, impossibles may describe objectives that require breakthrough innovations or new methodologies to become attainable. The label often signals the need for novel approaches, collaboration, or a redefinition of constraints.