The Causal Theory of Time

The Causal Theory of Time suggests that the order of events over time is determined by causality—cause and effect. In this view, an event occurs earlier because it causes or influences later events, establishing a direction from past to future. This theory sees time’s flow as shaped by the chain of interactions where causes precede effects, making temporal order a result of these causal relationships rather than an independent feature. Essentially, time’s structure is grounded in how things influence one another, ensuring that cause always comes before effect in the sequence of events.