Instead of asking “what would the system do if we did X?” ask “what will the system do in a similar setup
Methodologically, these are identical. The model or equation you are using to explore counterfactual or future states does not know or care whether the input conditions gave occurred or not. So your actual objection is about the metaphysics. On the assumption that the time is deterministic , the counterfactual could not have occurred. (The assumption that the past is fixed is not enough) You feel uncomfortable about dealing with falsehoods, even though it is possible, and sometimes useful.
It can be identical. Or it can be of the type of “What if Martin Luther King had died when he was stabbed in 1958” (from SEP), which is of little value except for alt history novels.
Methodologically, these are identical. The model or equation you are using to explore counterfactual or future states does not know or care whether the input conditions gave occurred or not. So your actual objection is about the metaphysics. On the assumption that the time is deterministic , the counterfactual could not have occurred. (The assumption that the past is fixed is not enough) You feel uncomfortable about dealing with falsehoods, even though it is possible, and sometimes useful.
It can be identical. Or it can be of the type of “What if Martin Luther King had died when he was stabbed in 1958” (from SEP), which is of little value except for alt history novels.