Simultaneous Causation: Metaphysics & Experiments

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the philosophical concept of simultaneous causation, specifically whether an effect can occur simultaneously with its cause. Participants reference the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on causation and clarify that while general relativity (GR) allows for closed timelike curves, classical relativity maintains that cause precedes effect. Furthermore, the discussion concludes that quantum entanglement does not demonstrate a cause-effect relationship, but rather a correlation at a distance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical relativity principles
  • Familiarity with general relativity and closed timelike curves
  • Basic knowledge of quantum entanglement
  • Philosophical concepts of causation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of closed timelike curves in general relativity
  • Study the philosophical arguments surrounding causation in metaphysics
  • Explore the nature of quantum entanglement and its interpretations
  • Examine the distinctions between correlation and causation in scientific contexts
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Philosophers, physicists, and students of metaphysics interested in the intersections of causation, relativity, and quantum mechanics.

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I have seen some philosophers discuss the concept that an effect and its cause can be simultaneous with one another:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-metaphysics/
However is this a concept that is demonstrated by experiment? Is entanglement an example of this? If not why not?
 
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Atype* said:
I have seen some philosophers discuss the concept that an effect and its cause can be simultaneous with one another:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-metaphysics/
However is this a concept that is demonstrated by experiment? Is entanglement an example of this? If not why not?

This is the wrong forum for entanglement. That would be the "quantum physics" forum. In classical relativity, cause always precedes effect, with one gray area. In GR there are mathematical solutions with closed timelike curves. On these, locally, cause precedes effect, but globally, you can argue you have effect preceding cause.

As for entanglement, there is no cause effect relationship. There is a myserious correlation at a distance, but not cause effect.
 

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