What type of reasoning moves from general premises to specific conclusions?

Deductive reasoning is a logical process where conclusions are drawn from a general premise or principle to arrive at a specific conclusion. This type of reasoning is often structured in a syllogistic format. For example, if it is established that all humans are mortal (a general premise), and Socrates is a human, then one can deduce that Socrates is mortal (a specific conclusion).

This method relies heavily on the validity of the initial premises; if they are true, the conclusions must also be true. Deductive reasoning is essential in fields such as mathematics and logic, where certainty and definitive conclusions are necessary based on established principles.

In contrast, inductive reasoning involves drawing general conclusions from specific instances, which does not guarantee the truth of the conclusions. Abductive reasoning focuses on the best explanation for a set of observations, and reactive reasoning is a less common term that generally refers to responding to circumstances rather than structured logical processes.