The possible world
Example: Philosophers often debate the nature of the possible world.
Definition
"The possible world" in philosophy refers to a complete and consistent way the world could have been, representing alternative realities or scenarios that differ from the actual world. Philosophers often debate the nature of the possible world to explore modal concepts like possibility and necessity.
Etymology
The phrase "the possible world" originates from modal logic and philosophy, where 'possible' stems from Latin 'possibilis,' meaning 'able to be done,' and 'world' from Old English 'weorold,' meaning 'age' or 'human existence.' This concept gained prominence in the 20th century with philosophers like Leibniz and later modal logicians.
Learn to use this word actively
"The possible world" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Philosophy - (C2) - set 1", containing 120 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
