Potentiae

Potentiae is a Latin term meaning powers or potentialities. In philosophical and theological contexts, potentia denotes the capacity to become or to act—an ability that is not yet actualized but can be brought into being under suitable conditions. The word functions as the plural form of potentia, used when discussing multiple powers or potential states.

Etymology and scope: Potentia comes from potens, meaning powerful, with the suffix -ia. In many Latin treatises, potentia is a technical term for a kind of power or capacity that lies between mere possibility and actualization. Potentiae thus refer to the various powers, abilities, or capacities possessed by substances or agents.

Philosophical usage: In the Aristotelian tradition, potentia is contrasted with actus (actuality). Potentiality describes what a thing is capable of becoming or doing, while actuality denotes the realized state. Scholastic philosophy refined this distinction, applying potentia to natural, essential, or acquired powers and exploring how potential states relate to the conditions that enable them to be realized. The framework helps explain change, causation, and the limits of what a thing can achieve.

Modern and theological usage: In contemporary philosophy, potentiae appears in discussions of modality, potentiality, and metaphysical power. The term also appears in theological writings to describe divine power, grace, or other possessible capacities of agents and beings.

See also: Potentiality and actuality, Dynamis (Greek precursor), Modality, Scholasticism.