What does deductive reasoning entail?

Deductive reasoning involves starting with a general principle or hypothesis and applying it to specific instances to draw a conclusion. This method takes a broad theory or established rule and narrows it down to particular cases, ensuring that if the general statement is true, the specific conclusion derived from it must also be true.

For example, if there is a general law that states all humans are mortal, and an individual is confirmed to be a human, one can logically deduce that this individual is mortal as well. This approach is systematic and often structured, making it a fundamental aspect of formal logic and scientific reasoning.

In contrast, options that involve generalizing from multiple observations or formulating laws from particular cases represent inductive reasoning, where conclusions are drawn from patterns or specific examples rather than applying a general rule to specific instances. Analyzing particular evidence also doesn’t align with deductive reasoning, as it focuses primarily on evaluating specific data rather than leveraging overarching principles to derive conclusions.