Patibilia

Patibilia is an obscure term used in philosophy of science and metaphysics to denote elements that can be accommodated by multiple theoretical frameworks without contradiction. The word derives from Latin patibilis “tolerable, manageable,” with the plural form patibilia. There is no widely accepted definition, and the term appears only sporadically in scholarly prose.

In one usage, patibilia are propositions, models, or data patterns that remain stable across rival theories, serving as neutral meeting points for debate. In another sense, patibilia describe the compatibility conditions that permit different explanations to be integrated in a coherent account.

Discussions of patibilia arise in debates about theory change, inter-theory reduction, and model plurality. Proponents view patibilia as pragmatic anchors that facilitate communication between diverse frameworks, while critics warn that the term risks masking deeper incompatibilities or overclaiming cross-framework compatibility. Because the term is not standard, authors often define it explicitly when used and provide example cases to illustrate its scope.

Patibilia are often contrasted with theoretical commitments that are theory-sensitive; what counts as patibilia may shift with new evidence or methodological moves. In practical terms, identifying patibilia involves looking for empirical predictions, data patterns, or explanatory targets that are robust to changes in underlying assumptions.