The coincidences of time travel

Philosophy of Science 70 (3):574-589 (2003)
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Abstract

In this paper I consider two objections raised by Nick Smith (1997) to an argument against the probability of time travel given by Paul Horwich (1995, 1987). Horwich argues that time travel leads to inexplicable and improbable coincidences. I argue that one of Smith's objections fails, but that another is correct. I also consider an instructive way to defend Horwich's argument against the second of Smith's objections, but show that it too fails. I conclude that unless there is something faulty in the conception of explanation implicit in Horwich's argument, time travel presents us with nothing that is inexplicable.

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Phil Dowe
Australian National University

Citations of this work

On predictions in retro-causal interpretations of quantum mechanics.Joseph Berkovitz - 2008 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 39 (4):709-735.
Constraints on data in worlds with closed timelike curves.Phil Dowe - 2007 - Philosophy of Science 74 (5):724–735.

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References found in this work

The direction of time.Hans Reichenbach - 1956 - Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications. Edited by Maria Reichenbach.
Physical Causation.Phil Dowe - 2000 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
Physical Causation.Phil Dowe - 2003 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 67 (1):244-248.
Asymmetries in Time.Paul Horwich - 1990 - Noûs 24 (5):804-806.
Review of T he Direction of Time.Henryk Mehlberg - 1962 - Philosophical Review 71 (1):99.

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