Artefacts from tomorrow: Future dilemmas of the parahistorian. (22nd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Richmond, Alasdair
• Is Part Of: Ratio. Volume 35:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2022-04-22
• Subjects: David Lewis -- evidence -- Roy Sorensen -- time travel; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Analysis (Philosophy) -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1111/rati.12334
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-0006

Abstract

Abstract: In 1987, Roy Sorensen coined the term "parahistory" to denote the hypothetical study of evidence retrieved via time travel. Parahistory would thus stand to history rather as parapsychology does to psychology; studying data (in this case artefacts) that are obtained in ways unrecognised by orthodox science. This paper considers future‐derived parahistorical artefacts. Past/future asymmetries threaten irresolvable problems in calibrating future objects' periods, in dating future artefacts and insulating them from causal loops. In turn, causal loop objects at best cannot be non‐arbitrarily dated at all and at worst, cannot even be artefacts. Even if there can be evidence for travel from the future, any such evidence that appeals to future artefacts faces pervasive difficulties and is very unlikely to be compelling.