Single Idea 10390

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 5. Direction of causation]

Full Idea

Reasons for denying that causal order is temporal order are that time travel seems possible, that cause and effect can be simultaneous, because joint effects have temporal order without causal connection, and because backward causation may exist.

Gist of Idea

Causal order is not temporal, because of time travel, and simultanous, joint or backward causes

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (The Metaphysics of Causation [2007], 2.2)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.24


A Reaction

The possibility of time travel and backward causation can clearly be doubted, and certainly can't be grounds for one's whole metaphysics. The other two need careful analysis, but I think they can be answered. Causation is temporal.