bestpossible

Bestpossible, often written as bestpossible, is a term used to describe the most favorable outcome, state, or solution achievable within a defined set of constraints. It is used across disciplines to denote an optimal or near-optimal result, contrasted with less favorable alternatives.

Philosophical context: In theodicy, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz argued that the world created by God is the best of all possible worlds. The claim is that, despite suffering and evil, this world represents the maximum achievable balance of goods given all permittable possibilities. The concept has been debated and criticized in philosophy.

In decision theory and optimization, the best possible outcome refers to the optimal solution to a problem under a given model. Practitioners distinguish between the truly best solution (when it can be found) and approximate or heuristic solutions that are close to optimal. The term is used in formulating objectives, benchmarks, and performance goals.

In risk assessment and policy analysis, “best possible” outcomes are often used as aspirational targets or to communicate the potential upper bound of benefits, while acknowledging uncertainty and trade-offs.

See also: best of all possible worlds; theodicy; optimization; decision theory; value function.