On Backwards Causation

Abstract

In our world we never observe an effect which is earlier than its cause. All of our experience is of future-directed (or perhaps simultaneous) causation. But many have thought that backwards causation is at least logically or metaphysically possible. Max Black (1956) famously argued against this thought. I think his argument fails, but it’s still instructive. The correct rejoinder to Black teaches us what backwards causation must be like in a world of free agents, and implies that we can never have reason to bring about past events (in a world with backwards causal chains).