What's the difference and similarities of deductive reasoning and a priori k

Question: What's the difference and similarities of deductive reasoning and a priori knowledge!? Or are they the same!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

not even close to the same!.!.!. one is knowledge and one is a means to knowledge!.!.!. "a priori" is a given, knowledge independent of experience, like a definition!. "deductive reasoning" is often what you DO with a priori knowledge; it's formulating a conclusion based on true premises!.

Edit: Here's an example:

1) All bachelors are unmarried!. (a priori knowledge, "unmarried" is part of the defifnition of "bachelor!.")
2) John is a bachelor!.
3) Therefore, John is unmarried!.

(the 3 steps above exemplify deductive reasoning)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Deductive arguments, as opposed to inductive arguments, are characterised in the way the premises directly lead to a conclusion!. Deductive arguments produce certainty, whereas inductive arguments produce merely a hypothetical conclusion!. Deductive reasoning bears some similarity to a priori knowledge, in the way that you can constitute a deductive argument as a truth (no matter how ridiculous the proposed premises), WITHOUT directly experiencing it!. Deductive arguments are also closely related to necessary truths - in which denying the said truth would result in a contradiction!. Obviously a priori knowledge shouldn't be confused with innate knowledge etc!. etc!.

Hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

CTW18 -

I think the two are very separate!. Prior knowledge is static information, or data in a memory of the brain!. Deductive reasoning is an active process, where one uses logical reasoning to solve an issue!.
One may or may not use prior knowledge during the process of deductive reasoning!. IMO the basic difference is static versus active processing of information!.Www@QuestionHome@Com