Which term refers to reasoning that moves from general to specific?

The term that refers to reasoning that moves from general to specific is deductive reasoning. In deductive reasoning, one starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. This type of reasoning follows a structured format, where if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

For example, if it is stated that all humans are mortal (general premise), and then it is mentioned that Socrates is a human (specific case), one can deduce that Socrates is mortal (specific conclusion). This logical progression highlights the strength of deductive reasoning in establishing definitive conclusions based on general premises.

Inductive reasoning, on the other hand, works in the opposite direction; it builds from specific observations to form general conclusions. Abductive reasoning involves forming the best possible explanation from incomplete information, while the term "bottom-up" generally refers to a similar type of reasoning as inductive but focuses more on building from the ground level rather than starting from existing generalities.