A Posteriori

I have always taken responsibility for my actions. Not out of respect or courtesy towards others, but more because I believe in the existentialist theme of free choice. That human beings do not have a fixed nature and each makes choices that create his/her nature. Then there is the underlying Kantian thought of A Priori and A Posteriori knowledge. I confess that I am a supporter of A Posteriori knowledge, or that our knowledge depends on its authority upon the evidence of experience.

As children, we learn through cause and effect. I touch a hot pot, get burned, and learn not to touch hot items. I clean my room and receive praise from my mother. These are just two small examples of A Posteriori knowledge----knowledge to not handle hot items due to an unpleasant consequence, to keep my room clean due to pleasant consequences. I can see a similarity with Pavlov’s conditioning theory as well. These situations gave me knowledge through experience. Therefore, A Posteriori.

But what of innate or A Priori ideas? One example of a firm supporter would be Chomsky, who believed in our innate ability to learn languages and to be able to distinguish between our first language and the one we just mastered. Or about Descartes, who was a firm supporter of innate knowledge because not accepting the knowledge leads to contradiction and “because we do not need to use our experiences to wonder about our existence.” So an example for this, would be my talent in the fine arts. I have been playing classical piano for over 20 years, I sketch pretty well, my experiences with acrylics and oils have been excellent, and was told recently by a known photographer that I had a “good eye.” Now, compare this to my sister, who I love very much, but cannot draw worth a penny. Musically inclined she is not. Would this be an example of innate knowledge? That I have the innate ability to respond positively to the fine arts around me and thus explain why I am more artistically inclined? Hhhmmm………..

So I am currently adrift in this sea of feuding knowledge, that of the acquired kind and that of the innate kind. Quite frankly, though, my intuition is currently transferring over to cause and effect (therefore not tautological) because I am starving, need some nourishment, and then will be content. Adieu!

It is hard for me to believe in anything beyond the very basic instinctual teachings as far as a priori knowledge. I think the bulk of knowledge is a posteriori. Ten people who experience the same event will experience that even differently. The knowledge they each hold will be different and the way they share that experience with others will be different. Maybe language is a priori, or the ability to learn languages, but so much after that relies on our decisions and every person makes different decisions. That's why it is important to get out and experience life and learn for oneself.