Which type of reasoning utilizes general premises to arrive at a specific conclusion?

The type of reasoning that utilizes general premises to arrive at a specific conclusion is deductive reasoning. This form of reasoning starts with general statements or principles (the premises) and logically applies them to reach a specific conclusion. For example, if it's established that all humans are mortal (a general premise) and Socrates is a human (a specific case), it can be concluded that Socrates is mortal.

Deductive reasoning is characterized by its structure, where the validity of the conclusion is guaranteed as long as the premises are true. This contrasts with other reasoning types. Inductive reasoning goes from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories, while abductive reasoning seeks the best or most likely explanation based on given evidence. Probabilistic reasoning deals with uncertainty and assigns likelihoods rather than definitive conclusions. Thus, in this context, deductive reasoning aligns with the correct description of utilizing general premises to arrive at specific conclusions.