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

TL;DR

This paper critically examines time-symmetric quantum theories, arguing they do not support retrocausation but instead depict a static, non-causal framework with an epistemic view of quantum states.

Contribution

It clarifies the ontological implications of time-symmetric quantum theories, challenging the notion of retrocausation and proposing a static, non-causal interpretation.

Findings

No dynamical causation applies to these theories

They depict a static picture of relationships among events

Quantum states are interpreted epistemically rather than ontologically

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.