potentialism · noun — A worldview based on things that might be possible rather than the actual facts. It carries an Arena rating of 1326, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, potentialism ranks #2,375 of 17,135 for Most Sublime Words, #6,219 of 17,149 for Most Incisive Words, #6,263 of 17,144 for Most Malleable Words, #6,430 of 17,152 for The Improbable.
Why “potentialism” is a great word
A worldview or philosophical stance that emphasizes possibilities and what might be, rather than focusing solely on actual facts or current reality. From the English word 'potential' (from Late Latin *potentialis*, from Latin *potentia*, meaning 'power') + the suffix '-ism', denoting a distinctive doctrine or theory. Unlike actualism, which declares the solid world of existing facts as the primary reality, or determinism, which sees a future locked into a chain of inescapable causes, potentialism is an orientation toward the open field. It is the blueprint before the foundation is poured, the unplayed note hanging in the silent concert hall, the scent of rain in still air before the storm—a quiet argument that what is matters less than what could be.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From potential + -ism.
noun
- A worldview based on things that might be possible rather than the actual facts.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
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