What does deductive reasoning involve?

Deductive reasoning is primarily characterized by the application of general statements or principles to specific situations. This type of reasoning starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. For instance, if the general premise is that all humans are mortal, and a specific individual is identified as a human, one can deduce that this individual is mortal as well.

This process emphasizes the importance of starting from broad truths and applying them to deduce new insights or conclusions about specific cases. It operates under a logical structure where the validity of the general proposition ensures the correctness of the conclusions derived when applied to specific instances. This is in contrast to other forms of reasoning, such as inductive reasoning, which moves from specific observations to broader generalizations or principles.