Okuzeka
Philosophy vocabulary · Epistemology

A posteriori

Meaning in philosophy, with examples

adjectiveCore term

In philosophy, a posteriori means: Describes knowledge or justification that depends on experience or observation, such as knowing that water boils at 100°C at sea level.

In Turkish: a posteriori, sonsal, deneyime dayalı

How it is used

The opposite of a priori. Most scientific knowledge is a posteriori. Saul Kripke famously argued that some truths, such as 'water is H2O', are necessary and yet can be known only a posteriori.

Example sentences

  1. Whether this metal conducts electricity can only be known a posteriori.

  2. Empiricists claim that all real knowledge about the world is a posteriori.

Common collocations

  • a posteriori knowledge
  • known a posteriori
  • necessary a posteriori
  • a posteriori argument
  • a prioriDescribes knowledge or justification that does not depend on experience, such as knowing that all bachelors are unmarried or that 7 + 5 = 12.
  • empiricismThe view that all or most of our knowledge comes from experience through the senses, rather than from reason alone.
  • empiricalBased on observation, experience or experiment rather than on pure reasoning or theory.
  • knowledgeKnowing that something is the case; traditionally defined as a belief that is true and properly justified, although this definition is disputed.

More terms: Epistemology

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