What is potential?

[Tim R]

Wikipedia say "Potential generally refers to a currently unrealized ability."

Ok then the question emerges: what is ability? Seems like a somewhat circular definition to me... 

Does potential even exist? In physics for example, before there's a current, a potential is present. Sort of the ability/desire of the electrons to jump over to the other electrons and generate the current. But either there's a current or not, potential is like non-present. Not really. 

So what is potential in human beings? Does potential itself even exist or does it actually not exist, only as something else that is manifested? 

Is potential the nothing that gives birth to the something?

[Forestluv]

1 hour ago, Tim R said:

Wikipedia say "Potential generally refers to a currently unrealized ability."

Ok then the question emerges: what is ability? 

And if you look up "ability", there will be another term in that definition that needs to be defined. And the definition of that term will have terms that need to be defined and on and on. . . Words don't have meaning that is 100% objective and specific. 

The term "potential" can be used in various contexts that are all inter-related. As you mentioned, there is the context of potentials in physics. In thermodynamics there is potential energy. In biology, there is membrane potentials of concentration gradients. In social contexts, we often refer to "potential" as an unmanifested ability, which has a reasonable chance of manifestation. For example, Amanda Gorman has a lot of poetry and performance skills - and she is only 22. In her lifetime, she has the potential to develop into one of the greatest poets ever. She has the potential of creating new forms of poetry that we don't even know exists today.