Concept
Retrocausality
Overview
Retrocausality, or backwards causation, is a concept of cause and effect in which an effect precedes its cause in time and so a later event affects an earlier one. In quantum physics, the distinction between cause and effect is not made at the most fundamental level and so time-symmetric systems can be viewed as causal or retrocausal. Philosophical considerations of time travel often address the same issues as retrocausality, as do treatments of the subject in fiction, but the two phenomena are distinct.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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We may therefore consider the relation of _contiguity_ as essential to that of causation; at least may suppose it such, according to the general opinion, till we can find a more proper occasion[2] to clear up this matter, by examining what objects are or are not susceptible of juxtaposition and conjunction.
David Hume, Philosophical Works, v. 1
The author is tied to Retrocausality in the knowledge graph.
There are seven[1] different kinds of philosophical relation, viz. RESEMBLANCE, IDENTITY, RELATIONS OF TIME AND PLACE, PROPORTION IN QUANTITY OR NUMBER, DEGREES IN ANY QUALITY, CONTRARIETY and CAUSATION. These relations may be divided into two classes; into such as depend entirely on the ideas, which we compare together, and such as may be changed without any change in the ideas.
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
The author is tied to Retrocausality in the knowledge graph.
But that is not all. In physical reality one cause does not produce a given effect, but a multitude of distinct causes contribute to produce it, without our having any means of discriminating the part of each of them. Physicists seek to make this distinction; but they make it only approximately, and, however they progress, they never will make it except approximately. It is approximately true that the motion of the…
Henri Poincaré, The Foundations of Science
Close in meaning to Retrocausality; the term itself is not named.
Philosophers who discussed Retrocausality
Related ideas
- Antony Flew
- Stephen Hawking
- Maxwell's equations
- Pseudoscience
- Particle physics
- Quantum mechanics
- Quantum entanglement
- Science fiction
- Spacetime
- Michael Dummett
- Aristotle
- Indian philosophy
- Wave
- Inductive reasoning
- New Scientist
- Buddhist philosophy
- Free will
- Oxford University Press
- Wiley (publisher)
- Fazang
- Contradiction
- David Hume
- Quantum nonlocality
- Fringe science
Place in the tradition
Part of Interpretations of quantum mechanics.