A Priori

A priori. All arguments may be divided, according to the relation of the subject-matter of the premises to that of the conclusion, into (a) a priori (from the antecedent to the consequence), or those of such a nature that the premises would account for the conclusion, were that conclusion granted, which is the Aristotelian method of reasoning; and (b) a posteriori (from the consequence to the antecedent), or those whose premises could not have been used to account for the conclusion, which is the Baconian method of reasoning. The former class is manifestly argument from cause to effect, since to account for anything signifies to assign the cause of it. The latter class comprehends all other arguments