Is There Really "Retrocausation" in Time-Symmetric Approaches to Quantum Mechanics?

Abstract

Time-symmetric interpretations of quantum theory are often presented as featuring "retrocausal" effects in addition to the usual forward notion of causation. This paper examines the ontological implications of certain timesymmetric theories, and finds that no dynamical notion of causation applies to them, either forward or backward. It is concluded that such theories actually describe a static picture, in which the notion of causation is relegated to a descriptor of static relationships among events. In addition, these theories lead to an epistemic rather than ontologically referring, realist view of quantum states.

A few minor editorial changes and an expanded Conclusion section addressing the issue of whether 'causation' talk can ever mean anything dynamical as opposed to merely perspectival. Comments welcome. Paper given at the Retrocausation Workshop of the AAAS annual meeting, June 2016