Legal Definitions - a posteriori

a posteriori

A posteriori is a Latin phrase that means "by a reason that comes after" (implied by experience). This is generally used to mean "after the facts". In philosophy, a posteriori reasoning is reasoning starting from the data of experience.

A posteriori is a term used to describe reasoning that is based on experience or evidence. This means that the conclusion is drawn after the facts have been observed. For example, if you touch a hot stove and get burned, you know that touching a hot stove is dangerous. This knowledge is gained through a posteriori reasoning because it is based on your experience of getting burned.

In philosophy, a posteriori reasoning is used to draw conclusions based on empirical evidence. For instance, if you observe that all swans you have seen are white, you can conclude that all swans are white. This conclusion is based on a posteriori reasoning because it is based on your experience of observing swans.

Overall, a posteriori reasoning is an important tool for gaining knowledge and making informed decisions based on evidence.