Seventeen. Counterfactual Dependence and Time's Arrow

Author: Lewis, David

Source: Philosophical Papers Volume II, June 1987 , pp. 32-67(36)

Publisher: Oxford Scholarship Online Monographs

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Abstract:

Upholds the asymmetry of counterfactual dependence, and proposes a semantic analysis of counterfactual conditionals that can account for it. It also considers the asymmetry of miracles and that of overdetermination, and answers the “future similarity” objection. The paper contains five postscripts, dealing with objections and further issues arising from the proposed account.

Keywords: time's arrow; counterfactual conditionals; indeterminism; causation; asymmetry; counterfactual dependence; overdetermination; miracles

Document Type: Research article

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