Causation and Time Reversal. (23rd June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farr, Matt
• Is Part Of: British journal for the philosophy of science. Volume 71:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2018-06-23
• Subjects: Science -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 501
• DOI: 10.1093/bjps/axx025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-0882

Abstract

Abstract: What would it be for a process to happen backwards in time? Would such a process involve different causal relations? It is common to understand the time-reversal invariance of a physical theory in causal terms, such that whatever can happen forwards in time (according to the theory) can also happen backwards in time. This has led many to hold that time-reversal symmetry is incompatible with the asymmetry of cause and effect. This article critiques the causal reading of time reversal. First, I argue that the causal reading requires time-reversal-related models to be understood as representing distinct possible worlds and, on such a reading, causal relations are compatible with time-reversal symmetry. Second, I argue that the former approach does, however, raise serious sceptical problems regarding the causal relations of paradigm causal processes and as a consequence there are overwhelming reasons to prefer a non-causal reading of time reversal, whereby time reversal leaves causal relations invariant. On the non-causal reading, time-reversal symmetry poses no significant conceptual nor epistemological problems for causation. 1 Introduction 1.1 The directionality argument 1.2 Time reversal 2 What Does Time Reversal Reverse? 2.1 The B- and C-theory of time 2.2 Time reversal on the C-theory 2.3 Answers 3 Does Time Reversal Reverse Causal Relations? 3.1 Causation, billiards, and snooker 3.2 The epistemology of causal direction 3.3 Answers 4 Is Time-Reversal Symmetry Compatible with Causation? 4.1 Incompatibilism 4.2 Compatibilism 4.3 Answers 5 Outlook