Single Idea 13440

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / g. Time's arrow]

Full Idea

The metaphysics of causation in terms of powers is linked with an intrinsic direction of time. There is a causal connection if an F-property produces a G. One can argue that causation thus is the basis for the direction of time.

Gist of Idea

Causation is the power of one property to produce another, and this gives time its direction

Source

Michael Esfeld (Humean metaphysics vs metaphysics of Powers [2010], 7.2)


A Reaction

I think this is my preferred metaphysic - that both time and causation are primitive, but the direction of time is the result of the causal process. Viewing some new world, we would just say that time went in whichever direction the causation went.