E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Posterio’ri.
An argument a posterio’ri is one from effects to cause. Thus, to prove the existence of God a posterio’ri, we take the works of creation and show how they manifest power, wisdom, goodness, and so on; and then we claim the inference that the maker of these things is powerful, wise, and good. Robinson Crusoe found the footprints of a man on the sand, and inferred that there must be a man on the island besides himself. (See PRIORI.)
