potentiality
What could become
Potentiality is the state of having unrealized capacity or possibility.
Where potential often functions as an adjective or refers to a specific capability, potentiality is more abstract—the quality of being potential rather than actual: The potentiality for conflict exists in any negotiation.
Philosophers distinguish potentiality from actuality when discussing what could be versus what is.
Greek founder of formal logic
- actualityState of existing fact
- teleologyStudy of purpose in nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- essenceFundamental nature of something
being · becoming · substance · causality · scholasticism · ontology · modal · disposition
State of being achievable
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- feasibilityPotential for success
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- conceivableAble to be imagined
imaginable · plausible · hypothetical · contingency · scenario · likelihood · probability · what-if
Inactive but capable
- unrealizedNot made actual
- untappedNot yet utilized
- nascentBeginning to develop
- embryonicAt earliest developmental stage
incipient · inchoate · quiescent · hidden · undeveloped · unmanifested · unawakened · unfulfilled
Time still to come
- tomorrowThe day after today
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- trajectoryPath of moving object
outlook · forthcoming · eventuality · unfolding · becoming · prospective · emergence · advancement
Progress toward maturity
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- flourishingProspering vigorously
- blossomingBeginning to flower
ripening · germination · cultivation · nurturing · unfolding · actualization · realization · fulfillment
Aristotle
Greek founder of formal logic
- actualityState of existing fact
- teleologyStudy of purpose in nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
essence · being · becoming · substance · causality · scholasticism · ontology · modal · disposition · propensity
possibility
State of being achievable
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- feasibilityPotential for success
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
conceivable · imaginable · plausible · hypothetical · contingency · scenario · likelihood · probability · what-if · speculation
dormant
Inactive but capable
- unrealizedNot made actual
- untappedNot yet utilized
- nascentBeginning to develop
embryonic · incipient · inchoate · quiescent · hidden · undeveloped · unmanifested · unawakened · unfulfilled · implicit
future
Time still to come
trajectory · outlook · forthcoming · eventuality · unfolding · becoming · prospective · emergence · advancement · progression
development
Progress toward maturity
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- flourishingProspering vigorously
blossoming · ripening · germination · cultivation · nurturing · unfolding · actualization · realization · fulfillment · emergence
capability
Power to accomplish tasks
aptitude · talent · gift · endowment · wherewithal · means · resources · reserves · headroom · scope
- philosophy termstruth, reason, knowledge, wisdom, logic
- existenceexistence, being, lives, reality, life
- metaphysicsessence, being, reality, existence, substance theory
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- AristotleLyceum, Metaphysics, logic, ethics, telos
- existentialismexistence, authenticity, existential angst, existential crisis, angst
potentialityactuality
State of existing fact
actualization · reality · realization · manifestation · existence
potentialityinability
Lack of capacity
incapacity · incapability · impossibility · powerlessness · impotence
potentialitycertainty
Total absence of doubt
inevitability · necessity · finality · determinism · determinacy