Deductive reasoning
method of reasoning by which premises understood to be true produce logically certain conclusions
Deduction is one of the two main types of reasoning. The other is induction. In deduction, we apply a general rule to a particular case.
Deductive arguments are attempts to show that a conclusion must follow from a set of premises or hypotheses. A deductive argument is valid if the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.
Aristotle, the first person we know who wrote down laws of deduction, gives this example of deduction:
- All men are mortal.
- Socrates is a man.
- Therefore, Socrates is a mortal.
The first two statements are called "premises". The last statement is called the "conclusion". The conclusion is taken from the premises.
- If the conclusion is wrong, then at least one of the premises is wrong
- If one of the premises is wrong, the conclusion may also be wrong.
Deductive reasoning is often called "top-down logic", whereas inductive reasoning is called "bottom-up reasoning".
🔥 Top keywords: Main PageSpecial:Search0Slash (punctuation)BlackSpecial:RecentChanges4 (number)DavidSOLID (object-oriented design)Wikipedia:AboutFile:Sexual intercourse with internal ejaculation.webmHelp:ContentsHelp:IntroductionLisa Sparxxx2023 UEFA Champions League FinalColour24-hour clockAdolf Hitler UunonaBismillahir Rahmanir Raheem6 (number)T. N. SeshanFile:ASCII-Table-wide.svg20 (number)Poor Things (movie)United StatesCristiano RonaldoList of people who have walked on the MoonAli Malikov50 (number)17 (number)The Valley (2024 TV series)GrassList of mathematical symbolsList of U.S. states and territories by time zone8 (number)List of countries by areaWikipedia:Simple talkList of largest Hindu templesRama