a priori vs. a posteriori
[ey prahy-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, ey pree-awr-ee, -ohr-ee, ah pree-awr-ee, -ohr-ee]
/ ˌeɪ praɪˈɔr aɪ, -ˈoʊr aɪ, ˌeɪ priˈɔr i, -ˈoʊr i, ˌɑ priˈɔr i, -ˈoʊr i /
adjective
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from a general law to a particular instance; valid independently of observation.
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existing in the mind prior to and independent of experience, as a faculty or character trait.
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not based on prior study or examination; nonanalytic.
an a priori judgment.
[ey po-steer-ee-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, -awr-ee, -ohr-ee]
/ ˌeɪ pɒˌstɪər iˈɔr aɪ, -ˈoʊr aɪ, -ˈɔr i, -ˈoʊr i /
adjective
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from particular instances to a general principle or law; based upon actual observation or upon experimental data.
an a posteriori argument that derives the theory from the evidence.
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not existing in the mind prior to or independent of experience.
