Reasoning

Deduction is a method for applying a general rule called the major premise in specific situations called the minor premise of which conclusions can be drawn. An Example is:

Major premise:   All humans are mortal
Minor premise:   I am a human
REasoningConclusion:   I am mortal

Immediately the obviousness and straightforwardness of the conclusion can be drawn from the premises.

Inductive reasoning is the antithesis of deductive reasoning. In this form of logical reasoning specific conclusions are generalized to general conclusions. A famous hypothesis is ‘all swans are white’. This conclusion was taken from a large amount of observations without observing any black swan. Inductive reasoning however is a risky form of logical reasoning since the conclusion can as easily be incorrect when, looking at the swans example, a black swan is spotted.