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The Asymmetry of Counterfactual Dependence

Loew, Christian (2017) The Asymmetry of Counterfactual Dependence. [Preprint]

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Abstract

A certain type of counterfactual is thought to be intimately related to causation, control, and explanation. The time asymmetry of these phenomena therefore plausibly arises from a time asymmetry of counterfactual dependence. But why is counterfactual dependence time asymmetric? The most influential account of the time asymmetry of counterfactual dependence is David Albert’s account, which posits a new, time-asymmetric fundamental physical law, the so-called “past hypothesis.” Albert argues that the time asymmetry of counterfactual dependence arises from holding fixed the past hypothesis when evaluating counterfactuals. In this paper, I argue that Albert’s account misconstrues the time asymmetry of counterfactual dependence.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Loew, Christian
Keywords: Counterfactuals; David Albert; Past Hypothesis; Asymmetry
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User: Christian Loew
Date Deposited: 13 Mar 2018 12:28
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2018 12:28
Item ID: 14456
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1086/692142
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1086/692142
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
Date: July 2017
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14456

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