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:	Creators Email ORCID 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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