condition of possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"condition of possibility" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a situation or set of circumstances that must exist in order for something else to exist or be possible. For example, "The successful completion of the project depended on the condition of possibility that all the stakeholders were adequately consulted."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

But this bodiless entity outside our universe sustains our existence; He is, in Eagleton's words, "the condition of possibility of any entity whatsoever.

The New Yorker

Natural caring is the condition of possibility for ethical caring.

SEP

A key condition of possibility for contemporary identity politics was institutionalized liberal democracy (Brown 1995).

SEP

Responsibility will be focused more sharply as the condition of possibility of all signification.

SEP

The republic is the necessary medium of self-realization, not merely the condition of possibility of private endeavors.

SEP

The philosophical task therefore is to analyze the condition of possibility of the regularity of this methodical determination of experience.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

A few days later, in a Lower East Side cafe on an afternoon so hot that only a true intellectual would think to order a pot of tea, Greif laid out the immediate prehistory of n+1 - what a certain kind of historian might call its conditions of possibility.

The New York Times - Magazine

He's interested in the conditions of possibility in which creative people work — from the mechanics of making a living to the philosophical questions raised by setting aside a category of commodities called Art to the prospects for saying the previously unsaid by using the common vocabulary of word and image (which is where Plato comes in).

The New York Times - Magazine

It is Levinas's step toward the affective conditions of possibility of prophetic speech.

SEP

All institutions, including democratic ones, entrench some social facts in realizing their conditions of possibility.

SEP

Thus, for Stiegler the constitutive transcendental horizon of the human is technicity, from which emerges the conditions of possibility of time, society and culture.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "condition of possibility" when you want to emphasize that something must exist or be true for something else to even be conceivable.

Common error

Avoid using "condition of possibility" in everyday conversation or writing. It is a technical term best suited for philosophical or theoretical discussions. Simpler phrases like "requirement" or "prerequisite" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "condition of possibility" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes a prerequisite or essential factor that enables something else to exist or occur. For example, "Natural caring is the condition of possibility for ethical caring."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "condition of possibility" is a noun phrase used to express a necessary prerequisite for something to exist or occur, particularly in philosophical and academic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in formal settings. While alternatives like "prerequisite" or "enabling condition" exist, "condition of possibility" carries a more specific, theoretical weight. It’s most frequently found in science, news and media, and formal & business sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enabling condition

Focuses more directly on the act of enabling something.

prerequisite

Highlights the necessity of something preceding another.

necessary condition

Emphasizes that something is essential but not necessarily sufficient.

essential requirement

Stresses the indispensable nature of the condition.

fundamental prerequisite

Highlights both the basic and necessary nature of the condition.

basis for possibility

Rephrases the condition as the foundation upon which possibility rests.

foundation for

Implies a supporting structure that allows something to exist or happen.

underlying requirement

Suggests a condition that is not always obvious but is fundamentally necessary.

precondition for

Highlights the temporal aspect of the condition needing to come before.

essential prerequisite

Combines the ideas of necessity and precedence.

FAQs

How is "condition of possibility" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "condition of possibility" is generally used to describe a necessary prerequisite for something to exist or occur. For example, "Institutionalized liberal democracy was a key "condition of possibility" for contemporary identity politics."

What's a simpler way to express "condition of possibility"?

Depending on the context, you could use simpler alternatives such as "prerequisite", "requirement", or "enabling factor".

In what fields is "condition of possibility" most commonly used?

The phrase is most frequently encountered in philosophy, critical theory, and academic discourse.

Is there a difference between "condition of possibility" and "necessary condition"?

While similar, "condition of possibility" often carries a stronger implication of fundamental enabling, whereas "necessary condition" simply means something is required.