What's The Chance You'll Answer This Poll

[Loss Leader]

In this very strange thread, forum member Epix issued me this challenge:

[F]ind a single person on this board who agrees with your statement, which says that "something that is very likely is exactly as possible as something that is very unlikely."

So, I throw it out to you. Do you agree that something that is very likely is exactly as possible as something that is very unlikely?

 

[Lord Emsworth]

Possibility is a binary thing. It either is possible or not.

Probability, or likelyhood on the other hand ...

 

[Twiler]

In the sense that they're both possible, yes.

 

[Oualawouzou]

Possibility is a binary thing. It either is possible or not.

Probability, or likelyhood on the other hand ...

That.

 

[CapelDodger]

That's six single people you've found who agree with you so far. You're not at all surprised, are you?

 

[ehcks]

Possibility has nothing to do with likelihood or probability.

 

[Halfcentaur]

Something is either impossible or possible, it doesn't matter how probable. And the kicker is, there are really only degrees of improbability.

 

[ehcks]

Tangentially, can anything actually be impossible?

 

[Loss Leader]

Tangentially, can anything actually be impossible?

Possibly.

 

[Twiler]

Tangentially, can anything actually be impossible?

Only ideas of things, not things themselves. Unless you count ideas of things as things in themselves.

 

[CapelDodger]

Tangentially, can anything actually be impossible?

Squaring the circle. Expressing sqrt(2) as a fraction. Any logical paradox.

I am so gonna regret posting the last of those ...

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Squaring the circle. Expressing sqrt(2) as a fraction. Any logical paradox.

I am so gonna regret posting the last of those ...

As to the first two then -- maybe in YOUR universe.

 

[AdMan]

That.

This.

 

[Dunstan]

Honestly, LL, I think it was poorly worded on your part, though in context I understood your meaning.

I guess you're taking the position that "possible" is simply a binary attribute (something is either possible or it's not), but (1) that's not the only way that word is used; and (2) you sort of undermine your position by using the qualifier "exactly" to modify "possible."

So while I think epix is making a mountain out of a molehill -- you certainly aren't committing the error he claims you are -- I can't agree with your statement.

 

[Irony]

Tangentially, can anything actually be impossible?

Assume for the moment the answer is no.

All ideas are possible.
Something being impossible is an idea.
Therefore something being impossible is possible.

 

[JJM 777]

Something being impossible is an idea.
Therefore something being impossible is possible.

Of course it is possible that something is impossible.

Maybe you tried to say that the idea is possible that impossible is possible. Like the orbit of circle being equal length with the four sides of a square around it. Ahh why am I participating in this? I repent immediately.

 

[Cavemonster]

Possibility is a binary thing. It either is possible or not.

Probability, or likelyhood on the other hand ...

I'd say that possibility has an unstated second element in addition to it's binary value.

It's impossible for me to leave work early.
It's impossible to walk to the moon.
A square triangle is impossible.

Each of these cases state a binary value for possibility, but they also contain a level of constraint. In this case it's social, physical and logical.

I think the way that we use the term "possible" there is an unstated sliding scale. It is fully possible for me to leave work early if we transcend the social scale to the physical scale. It is fully possible to walk to the moon on a logical scale, just vanishingly unlikely.

I think it's completely reasonable to say that leaving work early is more possible than walking to the moon which is more possible than a square triangle. This scale tends to have a strong correlation to probability/likelihood, to the extent that the terms can be uses interchangeably in many contexts.

 

[GlennB]

I think it's completely reasonable to say that leaving work early is more possible than walking to the moon which is more possible than a square triangle. This scale tends to have a strong correlation to probability/likelihood, to the extent that the terms can be uses interchangeably in many contexts.

Excellent summing up. 'Possible' is only binary when we're using it in the binary sense. It has other senses.

 

[stilicho]

In this very strange thread, forum member Epix issued me this challenge:

So, I throw it out to you. Do you agree that something that is very likely is exactly as possible as something that is very unlikely?

I didn't read your other thread so I don't know the context.

 

[Roboramma]

I'd say that possibility has an unstated second element in addition to it's binary value.

It's impossible for me to leave work early.
It's impossible to walk to the moon.
A square triangle is impossible.

Each of these cases state a binary value for possibility, but they also contain a level of constraint. In this case it's social, physical and logical.

I think the way that we use the term "possible" there is an unstated sliding scale. It is fully possible for me to leave work early if we transcend the social scale to the physical scale. It is fully possible to walk to the moon on a logical scale, just vanishingly unlikely.

I think it's completely reasonable to say that leaving work early is more possible than walking to the moon which is more possible than a square triangle. This scale tends to have a strong correlation to probability/likelihood, to the extent that the terms can be uses interchangeably in many contexts.

Nice post, but I would suggest that there is an implied element of those statements that isn't fully stated. For instance "it's impossible for me to leave work early" means (to the speaker and the listener) something like, "It's impossible for me to leave work early without getting in trouble with my boss".

Mind you, that's still not literally impossible. But we humans do exaggerate some times.