The possibility of possibility: Between ethnography and social theory

Abstract

This paper considers how ‘the possibility of possibility’ as freedom of choice and audacious obligation towards newness found in philosophical works of such scholars as Søren Kierkegaard and Michel Serres is tempered by socio-historical circumstance. Ethnographic material from Scotland and Greece demonstrates contrasting ways that possibilities are impacted by the various timespaces that open or foreclose pathways to the future. Possibility shapes notions of the Self and Society since people are propelled to (in)action by way of recurring and reinterpreted pasts, are pulled through futural horizons in present-day practice or become stuck on the threshold of becoming. In the context of the independence movement in Scotland, possibility plays an active role in political life of independence campaigners with a feedback loop between past-present-future providing momentum to actualise the possible. In Greece, a decade of crisis has foreclosed previously possible futures with people feeling stuck in a repeating spin-cycle where horizons of the possible cannot be crossed. The ethnographic examples showcase how the multiplicities of human life affect the possibility of possibility and how visions of the elsewhere, elsewhen, and otherwise emerge in more or less ‘positive’ scenarios.

Embracing difference and cultivating hope: The transformative potential of Possibility Studies

“…One of the essential features of narratives is that they allow us to render complex social and political issues more accessible bringing attention to critical problems and inspiring collective action towards addressing them. As Knight and Manley (2023) show, socio-historical narratives grounded in reality can serve as a driving force for radical political movements, fostering solidarity, and working towards a shared vision of a better future. By drawing on the lessons and wisdom of the past, such movements can mobilise collective action and harness human creativity and resilience to tackle pressing social and political challenges.…”

“…Further complicating matters, Ormerod (2023) demonstrates that possibilities are not only situational properties but are also influenced by the expertise and interactions of the thinkers involved, making the possibility space fluid and relational. Meyer (2023) highlights this relational aspect of possibility, asserting that what is possible is also a socio-cultural phenomenon shaped by the surrounding context (see also Knight & Manley, 2023). Zurn and Bassett (2023) observe that while numerous possibilities exist, it is curiosity which enables us to recognise and act upon them.…”

“…In support of this, Seligman (2023) demonstrates through linguistic analysis that the future is based on the psychological state of the present. Bearing in mind the inherent constraint of the actual is part of the argument of Knight and Manley's (2023) paper which reminds is that there is a luxury in free will, in philosophical choice in the face of difficulty and restriction of choice.…”

“…Despair is as future oriented as hope, so its existence helps us understand the difference between the possible and the future; despair marks a future which is limited in possibilities. Knight and Manley (2023) remind us by drawing on Kierkegaard that possibility is a mix both of fear and desire to explore the unknown. It was the unknowability of the Scottish referendum that led to the hope of future possibilities but in political movements material constraints kick in.…”

“…According to Baumeister and Alquist (2023), the capacity to conceive and act upon multiple possibilities is a unique characteristic of humans and is central to the human condition. Knight and Manley (2023), drawing on Heidegger, argue that possibility is not only an essential component of being but also a fundamental responsibility for humans to fulfil. Valsiner (2023) characterizes possibility as a ''central pathway for the human psyche''.…”