This chapter elucidates the notion of a fact as a prelude to
considering whether there can be future facts, and whether and
when we can speak of a prediction as true. The consequences for
fatalism of the arguments are noted. The use of ‘true’ in
application to conditional propositions is discussed, and the
differences in this context between present-tense and future-
tense verbs is explained. This leads on to a consideration of
the modal character of ‘will’ and of the behaviour distinctive
of ‘shall’. Questions involving precognition, freedom, and
causation are then considered. Oxford Scholarship Online
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