deductive

Deductive reasoning is a type of logical reasoning that starts with general principles or hypotheses and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. It is one of the three main types of reasoning, along with inductive and abductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is often used in mathematics, philosophy, and science to derive conclusions from premises that are known or assumed to be true.

The structure of deductive reasoning typically follows the form of a syllogism, which consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. The major premise is a general statement or principle, while the minor premise is a specific case that relates to the major premise. The conclusion is the logical result that follows from the combination of the major and minor premises.

For example, consider the following syllogism:

Major Premise: All humans are mortal.

Minor Premise: Socrates is a human.

Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

In this example, the major premise is a general statement about all humans, the minor premise is a specific statement about Socrates, and the conclusion is the logical result that Socrates is mortal.

Deductive reasoning is considered valid if the conclusion logically follows from the premises, and it is considered sound if the premises are true. However, deductive reasoning can sometimes lead to false conclusions if the premises are false or if the reasoning is flawed. Despite this, deductive reasoning remains a fundamental tool in logic and critical thinking.