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On metaphysical explanations of psychological asymmetries

Deng, Natalja (2022) On metaphysical explanations of psychological asymmetries. [Preprint]

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Abstract

What is the relation between metaphysical and psychological insights into temporal asymmetries? This chapter examines that question on the basis of a case study concerning the temporal Doppler effect (Caruso, Van Boven, Chin, & Ward, 2013). Caruso et al. propose that future events seem closer than past ones at an equal objective temporal distance because we experience subjective movement through time. I explore ways of interpreting their discussion in the light of the metaphysical debate between A- and B-theorists over whether time really passes and whether the future is genuinely ‘open’ while the past is ‘fixed’. I argue for the following claims: (1) Caruso et al.’s talk of a subjective movement through time seems best interpreted as concerning our longer term cognitive relationship to time; (2) both A- and B-theoretic interpretations of their discussion are viable as interpretations; (3) if combined with Priorean arguments for the A-theory, it takes some work to make sure the A-theoretic interpretation respects Van Boven and Caruso’s constraint that the objective temporal distance cannot directly influence psychological outcomes without influencing psychological intermediaries; and (4) a third, less metaphysically loaded interpretation may be preferable to both the A- and the B-theoretic ones.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Deng, Nataljanmdeng@gmail.com0000-0001-5668-9271
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Prof. Natalja Deng
Date Deposited: 26 Jul 2023 14:46
Last Modified: 26 Jul 2023 14:46
Item ID: 22339
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Psychology
Date: 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22339

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