What is the latin phrase for after the event?

Answer 1

"Pre factum" is perhaps the best answer as it is the opposite to "post factum" which is latin for "after the fact".

There is another term which is commonly used to describe the past though. "A priori" is latin for "from what comes before". It is generally referred to by philosophers, describing a certain type of knowledge or reasoning; i.e. that reasoning which has no reference to observation or experience but is inherent or intrinsic truth. A priori reasoning is not empirical. It therefore fits more comfortably into the realm of the natural law than it does within the Cartesian plane.

Examples of a priori reasoning: # 2+2=4 # All bachelors are unmarried # 100 per cent of people die These statements are necessarily true, as their negation would be a self-contradiction. For example: # 2+2 does not equal 4 - this statement is self-contradictory because of the definition of "2" which is twice the value of "1"and half the value of "4". # Some bachelors are married - this statement is self-contradictory because of the definition of "bachelor" which is an unmarried man. # Less than 100 per cent of people die - again, this statement is self-contradictory because of the definition of "people" who are guaranteed to live and to die. Therefore, these a priori statements will be true, as these ones are, in the actual world, and also in every possible world.

P. W. L. H.

Answer 2

Post facto is the Latin equivalent of 'after the fact'. In the word by word translation, the preposition 'post' means 'after'. The noun 'factum' in the ablative case 'facto' means 'fact'.

Answer 3

ex post facto