What term describes applying a general statement to a specific case?

The process of applying a general statement to a specific case is best described by the term deduction. In this context, deduction involves starting with a broad principle or theory and deriving specific conclusions or predictions about individual cases based on that general information. This logical reasoning pattern is often summarized by the structure of syllogisms, where if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

For example, if one holds the general statement that all mammals have a backbone, they can deduce that since a dog is a mammal, it must also have a backbone. This demonstrates how deduction works to apply a broad rule to a particular instance.

In contrast, induction is a different reasoning process that involves deriving general principles from specific observations. Correlation refers to a statistical relationship where two variables tend to move together, without implying causation. Causation indicates a cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting how one event directly influences another. While these terms have important roles in scientific and logical reasoning, deduction specifically focuses on deriving specific implications from established generalities.