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Specifically, deductive reasoning is a [[logical reasoning]] process "that starts with general statements and moves towards specific, certain conclusions. It's a "top-down" approach where, if the initial premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. This process is often used in mathematics, computer programming, and various [[Problem solving|problem-solving]] scenarios.<ref>[https://www.google.com/search?q=how+does+deductive+reasoning+work&sca_esv=4f2e2ee15bfedfaf&sxsrf=AE3TifPoS4ZvAm9yPYcOkYZ6lXTHOwN9JA%3A1754610367945&ei=vzqVaM3BOc6mhbIPxILesAw&ved=0ahUKEwiNnc398PmOAxVOU0EAHUSBF8YQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=how+does+deductive+reasoning+work&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIWhvdyBkb2VzIGRlZHVjdGl2ZSByZWFzb25pbmcgd29yazILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMggQABiiBBiJBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FSP5PUABYoUtwB3gBkAEAmAHGAaAB-DOqAQQwLjQwuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIvoALXNcICBBAjGCfCAgoQIxiABBgnGIoFwgINECMY8AUYgAQYJxiKBcICChAAGIAEGEMYigXCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICDhAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgsQLhiABBixAxjUAsICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgILEC4YgAQY0QMYxwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARiKBcICBRAAGIAEwgIHECMY8AUYJ8ICBhAAGAMYCsICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIFEC4YgATCAgcQABiABBgKwgIHEAAYgAQYDcICBxAhGKABGArCAgUQIRifBcICBhAAGA0YHpgDAJIHBjcuMzkuMaAH7PQCsgcGMC4zOS4xuAeyNcIHCDAuMS40NS4xyAfHAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp How does deductive reasoning work?]</ref>
Specifically, deductive reasoning is a [[logical reasoning]] process "that starts with general statements and moves towards specific, certain conclusions. It's a "top-down" approach where, if the initial premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. This process is often used in mathematics, computer programming, and various [[Problem solving|problem-solving]] scenarios.<ref>[https://www.google.com/search?q=how+does+deductive+reasoning+work&sca_esv=4f2e2ee15bfedfaf&sxsrf=AE3TifPoS4ZvAm9yPYcOkYZ6lXTHOwN9JA%3A1754610367945&ei=vzqVaM3BOc6mhbIPxILesAw&ved=0ahUKEwiNnc398PmOAxVOU0EAHUSBF8YQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=how+does+deductive+reasoning+work&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIWhvdyBkb2VzIGRlZHVjdGl2ZSByZWFzb25pbmcgd29yazILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMggQABiiBBiJBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FSP5PUABYoUtwB3gBkAEAmAHGAaAB-DOqAQQwLjQwuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIvoALXNcICBBAjGCfCAgoQIxiABBgnGIoFwgINECMY8AUYgAQYJxiKBcICChAAGIAEGEMYigXCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICDhAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgsQLhiABBixAxjUAsICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgILEC4YgAQY0QMYxwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARiKBcICBRAAGIAEwgIHECMY8AUYJ8ICBhAAGAMYCsICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIFEC4YgATCAgcQABiABBgKwgIHEAAYgAQYDcICBxAhGKABGArCAgUQIRifBcICBhAAGA0YHpgDAJIHBjcuMzkuMaAH7PQCsgcGMC4zOS4xuAeyNcIHCDAuMS40NS4xyAfHAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp How does deductive reasoning work?]</ref>
Deductive logic is characterized by certainty: in a valid argument, when the premises are true, the conclusion '''must''' be true. Take a classic argument of deductive logic:
:'''P1:''' All men are mortal
:'''P2:''' Socrates is a man.
:'''C:''' Socrates is mortal.
The conclusion is "contained" in the premises. In this sense the conclusion can be said to "follow" from the premises. The conclusion, "Socrates is mortal", is also less informative than the premises, which imply not just that Socrates is mortal but that all men are also mortal. As a result, deductive logic is not thought to add to knowledge, merely to clarify it.
== Pros and cons of deductive reasoning ==
== Pros and cons of deductive reasoning ==