Max Black and Backward Causation

Garrett, Brian; Joven Joaquin, Jeremiah

Cultural advice

The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that ANU Library collections may include images, names, voices, and other representations of deceased persons.

Material in the collection may contain terms, language or views that reflect the period in which the item was created and may be considered inappropriate today.

Max Black and Backward Causation

Date

2022

Authors

Garrett, Brian

Joven Joaquin, Jeremiah

Abstract

In this discussion, I point out that Max Black offers not one but two arguments against the (logical/metaphysical) possibility of backwards causation. Although both arguments fail in their intended aim, they show something important, viz., that defenders of backwards causation should understand Black’s Houdini example (and others like it) in terms of the “multiple causes” model.