Relevant Possibility

Abstract

In this essay, I put forward the following statements: 1) there is a difference between the general and relevant concepts of possibility. Most philosophical approaches deal with general possibility, which is the dual concept of the equally general, global necessity; 2) the basic experience of possibility and necessity is different: while by necessity we really mean its global variant, the most natural concept of possibility is a local type of possibility bound to a given situation, i.e. the relevant possibility; 3) the standard philosophical interpretation of modality, the model of possible worlds based on a combinatorial approach, cannot provide a satisfactory analysis of the relevant concept of possibility, the Aristotelian concept and its contemporary versions need to be supplemented; 4) the relevant possibility can be adequately approached in terms of Situation Theory; 5) the relevant possibility can be interpreted as change-compatibility and relevance-receptivity between situations.