What is the term for a form of reasoning that moves from general principles to specific instances?

The term for reasoning that moves from general principles to specific instances is deductive reasoning. In this type of reasoning, a general statement or principle is applied to a specific case to draw a conclusion. For example, if one accepts that "all humans are mortal" (a general principle), one could deduce that "Socrates is a human, therefore Socrates is mortal" (a specific instance). This illustrates how deductive reasoning works — it begins with a broad premise and narrows down to a specific conclusion based on that premise.

In contrast, inductive reasoning, which is another type of reasoning, starts with specific observations or instances and moves to broader generalizations. Syllogism is a form of reasoning that utilizes deductive reasoning through structured arguments with premises leading to a conclusion. Abductive reasoning, on the other hand, involves forming the best possible explanation from an incomplete set of observations. Understanding these differences can enhance your reasoning skills and make it easier to identify which method to use in various contexts.