phrase
Latin
also: Philosophy & Psychology
A Priori / A Posteriori
lit. “from the earlier / from the later”
Knowledge derived before experience versus from experience.
Origin
Central to Kantian epistemology. A priori knowledge — like mathematical truths — is held to be independent of empirical experience; a posteriori knowledge requires it.
Modern usage
Mostly philosophical, but 'a priori' leaks into casual writing as a synonym for 'in advance' or 'taken as given.'
Tags
epistemology
philosophy