Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A posteriori | A posteriori is a Latin phrase meaning "from what comes after." In philosophy and logic, it refers to knowledge or arguments that rely on empirical evidence, observation, or sensory experience. It is the opposite of a priori (which means "from what comes before" and refers to knowledge known independently of experience, like math or definitions). A posteriori claims can be verified, modified, or disproven by gathering new data or conducting experiments. Science |
| A priori | In Latin a priori means "what comes first". A priori understandings are the assumptions that come before the rest of the assessment, argument, or analysis. In general terms, a proposition is knowable a priori if it is knowable independently of experience. Science |
| Abduction | A form of inference, forming the most plausible or "best guess" explanation for a set of observations. Science |
| Accuracy | How close a measurement or experimental result is to the true or accepted value. Science |
| Ad Hominem | A logical fallacy where a speaker attacks the character, motive, or personal traits of their opponent instead of engaging with the substance of the opponent's argument. It aims to discredit a claim by attacking the person making it. Antiscience |
| Agentic AI | Agentic AI refers to autonomous AI systems that can set their own goals, plan, and execute sequences of actions - often coordinating tools or other agents - to achieve real-world objectives. Artificial Intelligence |
| AGI | Artificial general intelligence is a (still hypothetical) AI with human-level, domain-general understanding and the ability to learn and apply knowledge to any intellectual task. Artificial Intelligence |
| AI | Artificial intelligence is the broad field of building machines or software that perform functions we normally associate with human intelligence, from pattern recognition and language understanding to planning and decision-making. Artificial Intelligence |
| Albedo | The amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface, often expressed as a percentage. Climate Change Denial |
| Alternative Medicine | Specific movements that often rely on rejecting evidence-based public health practices (e.g., anti-vaxxers, vaccine hesitancy). Science General |