There is a large class of reasonings which are neither deductive nor inductive. I mean the inference of a cause from its effect or reasoning to a physical hypothesis. I call this reasoning à posteriori. If I reason that certain conduct is wise because it has a character which belongs only to wise things, I reason à priori. If I think it is wise because it once turned out to be wise, that is if I infer that is is wise on this occasion because it was wise on that occasion, I reason inductively. But if I think it is wise because a wise man does it, I then make the pure hypothesis that he does it because he is wise, and I reason à posteriori. The form this reasoning assumes, is that of an inference of a minor premiss in any of the figures. The following is an example.
Light gives certain fringes | Ether waves give certain fringes
Ether waves give these fringes | Light is ether waves
.: Light is ether waves | .: Light gives these fringes.
[—]
The difference in their general character between the three kinds of reasoning is strongly marked. A consequent is inferred à priori, an antecedent à posteriori, and the nexus between them inductively.
