Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel?
David Lewis aimed to give an account of causation, and in particular, a semantics for the counterfactuals to which his account appeals, that is compatible with backwards causation and time travel. I will argue that he failed, but not for the reasons that have been offered to date, specifically by Co...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Philosophies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/4/94 |
| _version_ | 1797226348233621504 |
|---|---|
| author | Phil Dowe |
| author_facet | Phil Dowe |
| author_sort | Phil Dowe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | David Lewis aimed to give an account of causation, and in particular, a semantics for the counterfactuals to which his account appeals, that is compatible with backwards causation and time travel. I will argue that he failed, but not for the reasons that have been offered to date, specifically by Collins, Hall and Paul and by Wasserman. This is significant not the least because Lewis’ theory of causation was the most influential theory over the last quarter of the 20th century; and moreover, Lewis’ spirited defence of time travel in the 1970s has shaped philosophers’ approach to time travel to this day. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:18:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a04beceb07346009952b1cc7d07c909 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2409-9287 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:23:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Philosophies |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a04beceb07346009952b1cc7d07c9092024-04-03T05:55:59ZengMDPI AGPhilosophies2409-92872021-11-01649410.3390/philosophies6040094Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel?Phil Dowe0School of Philosophy, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, AustraliaDavid Lewis aimed to give an account of causation, and in particular, a semantics for the counterfactuals to which his account appeals, that is compatible with backwards causation and time travel. I will argue that he failed, but not for the reasons that have been offered to date, specifically by Collins, Hall and Paul and by Wasserman. This is significant not the least because Lewis’ theory of causation was the most influential theory over the last quarter of the 20th century; and moreover, Lewis’ spirited defence of time travel in the 1970s has shaped philosophers’ approach to time travel to this day.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/4/94time travelcounterfactualscausationmiracles |
| spellingShingle | Phil Dowe Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel? Philosophies time travel counterfactuals causation miracles |
| title | Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel? |
| title_full | Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel? |
| title_fullStr | Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel? |
| title_short | Does Lewis’ Theory of Causation Permit Time Travel? |
| title_sort | does lewis theory of causation permit time travel |
| topic | time travel counterfactuals causation miracles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/4/94 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT phildowe doeslewistheoryofcausationpermittimetravel |