POTENTIA AND ACTUALITAS IN ARISTOTLE’S AND HEGEL’S PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

The terms δύναμις (potentia) and ένέργεια (actualitas) were used to describe ’thecoming to be’ as a change. Potentiality means a capacity to change, to act or to be acted upon,to give or to receive some new determination. Actuality means the fulfi llment of such a capacity.Therefore, potentiality always refers to something in the future, which at present exists only asa seed to be evolved; actus denotes the corresponding complete reality. In a word, potentialityis the determinable being, actuality is the determined being. These terms are highly connectedwith the matter and form (Aristotle) and the development (Hegel).