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    Lewis's similarity metric for possible worlds privileges ... — Carmelics
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    Supports→The Stalnaker-Lewis theory of counterfactuals cannot adequately evaluate counterfactuals that would represent backward causation.

    Lewis's similarity metric for possible worlds privileges spatiotemporal continuity and local miracles, which structurally presupposes forward temporal asymmetry.

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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Lewis's metric prioritizes worlds sharing our past light cone, implicitly treating earlier states as fixed constraints on later ones.
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    • 2.The distinction between 'local miracles' (permissible) and 'divergence' (impermissible) relies on temporal direction: effects must follow causes.
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    • 3.Similarity judgments about counterfactuals systematically treat backward causation as more costly than forward causation, revealing asymmetry.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Lewis's metric applies equally to time-reversed scenarios; the appearance of asymmetry reflects our epistemic position, not the metric itself.
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    • 2.Spatiotemporal continuity is a neutral geometric constraint independent of temporal direction; it applies symmetrically in both directions.
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    • 3.The 'local miracle' concept is defined by minimal divergence from actual laws, not temporal ordering—it works for past interventions too.
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    Causation1 linkedModality & Possibility1 linked

    Related

    Lewis's metric applies equally to time-reversed scenarios; the appearance of asy...Lewis's metric prioritizes worlds sharing our past light cone, implicitly treati...Similarity judgments about counterfactuals systematically treat backward causati...Spatiotemporal continuity is a neutral geometric constraint independent of tempo...
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    The 'local miracle' concept is defined by minimal divergence from actual laws, n...The Stalnaker-Lewis theory of counterfactuals cannot adequately evaluate counter...The distinction between 'local miracles' (permissible) and 'divergence' (impermi...

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