Single Idea 10375

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

Full Idea

The traditional view that the direction of causation is the direction of time has been challenged, by the direction of forking, by overdetermination, by independence, and by manipulation, which all seem to be one-directional features.

Gist of Idea

At least four rivals have challenged the view that causal direction is time direction

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (The Metaphysics of Causation [2007], 1.3.1)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.16


A Reaction

Personally I incline to the view that time is prior, and fixes the direction of causation. I'm not sure that 'backward causation' can be stated coherently, even if it is metaphysically or naturally possible.