[betty boop]

...causality is a fundamental principle of physics. This is certainly true in Newtonian physics.

Oh so true, dearest sister in Christ! Evidently the reason physicists reject the idea of final cause is it "looks like" a "pull" from the future — which in Newton's theory of causation cannot happen.

And yet as you say "If time is volumetric, then effect>cause is possible as surely as cause>effect, etc." Newton's formalism, however, is premised on time being linear and irreversible.

Also so very true: "on principle an observer 'in' space/time cannot know 'all that there is' all at once. Even if his sensory perception would allow him, he would nevertheless be a part of his own observation."

Thank you so very much for your outstanding observations! Sorry to hear you lost power.... I'm SO glad it's back on, and you're here! We're supposed to get hit by Irene sometime tomorrow. So I expect we'll lose power at some point, too....

[metmom]

Our neighbors huge maple tree has shown alarming signs of rot in the last couple of days and they are having it taken down, but not before tomorrow.

We are supposed to be having high winds all day Sunday and my prayer is that it stays standing. No matter which direction if falls, someone is not going to be coming out on the good end of things, one of which is the front of our house.

[Alamo-Girl]

I pray for you and all your loved ones, safe passage through the storm!

And thank you for your encouragements, dearest sister in Christ!

Evidently the reason physicists reject the idea of final cause is it "looks like" a "pull" from the future — which in Newton's theory of causation cannot happen.

No doubt and yet a closer look at the mathematics (including information theory) and physics of biology reveals just such temporal non-locality (Rosen et al.) For instance, maintenance and repair functions appeared before the need arose.

But the metaphysical naturalists must deny all such evidence of first or final cause.