What does deductive reasoning rely on?

Deductive reasoning is a logical process that starts with general premises or statements that are generally accepted as true. From these general premises, specific conclusions are drawn that logically follow. This type of reasoning is often structured in a way that if the premises are sound and the reasoning is valid, the conclusion must also be true.

For instance, if we consider the general premise "All humans are mortal" and another premise "Socrates is a human," we can deduce that "Socrates is mortal." The strength of deductive reasoning lies in its ability to produce conclusions that are necessarily true, provided the starting premises are correct.

This method contrasts with other forms of reasoning, such as emotional reasoning, which relies on feelings and subjective responses; anecdotal evidence, which is based on personal stories and individual experiences rather than broader principles; and trial and error, which involves experimentation and is often used in scientific methods but does not guarantee a logically derived conclusion from premises. Thus, relying on general premises allows deductive reasoning to maintain its clarity and rigor in arriving at specific conclusions.