potentialitiespossibilities

The term potentialitiespossibilities denotes a field of inquiry focused on the range of states a system could reach, considering both internal capacities and external constraints. It combines Aristotle's notion of potentiality with the modal idea of possibility to study how future states may arise.

Potentialities are the inherent capacities or dispositions of a subject or system to develop certain states, given suitable conditions. Possibilities are the set of states that could be realized under current laws, resources, and environments. The concept emphasizes the interaction between what a system could become and what it could do.

In practice, mapping potentialities to possibilities involves identifying latent capabilities, evaluating how actions or events unlock them, and noting how constraints prune potential outcomes. Technological, economic, and policy changes can expand or restrict the space of possibilities.

Historically rooted in Aristotle (potentiality and actuality) and extended by modern modal logic and systems theory, the term also appears in futures studies and strategic planning as a compact way to frame uncertainty and adaptability.

Applications include philosophy of mind and ethics (agency and responsibility), AI planning and robotics (scenario generation), and risk management or strategic forecasting (resilience and adaptability).

Example: a city may possess the potentialities to become a cultural or financial hub; whether either appears depends on investments, governance, and external markets, which together determine the possibilities available at a given time.

Terminology note: as a coined term, potentialitiespossibilities requires clear definitions to avoid confusion with related notions. When defined precisely, it provides a concise lens on futures, design, and decision-making.