P is for Possibillian
Yes, "possibillian" is really a word. Granted, you won't find it in any dictionary (yet), but there's an entry for it on wikipedia, so it must be a real word, right?
Possibillian was coined by neuroscientist David Eagleman in response to being asked whether he was an atheist or a religious person. He replied "I call myself a Possibilian: I'm open to ideas that we don't have any way of testing right now. "
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd"
Voltaire
Once we get beyond the toolbox of science, no one knows anything for certain. Actually, the only thing we do know for certain is the magnitude of things we don't know. Being a possibillian means you don't have to limit yourself to one belief system - you can be open to multiple possibilities and ideas at the same time. And it's okay to say "I don't know" - what a novel and freeing idea!
"Celebrate possibility and praise uncertainty." David Eagleman
Possibillian...I absolutely love this word and am going to start using it! I get a lot of people who ask me to define myself spiritually, which is impossible because I do not fall into any defined category. Possibillian works. This is an awesome post...just what I needed today. :)
ReplyDeleteI think possibillianism is an idea that is very much needed these days. Glad you found it interesting!
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