Proof by Deduction

Deductive reasoning moves from general rules to specific conclusions. If all mammals breathe air, and whales are mammals, then whales breathe air. The conclusion is not probable or likely but logically certain given the premises.

Inductive reasoning works the other way, from specific observations to general rules. Seeing a thousand white swans does not prove all swans are white — one black swan breaks the pattern. Science uses induction; mathematics demands deduction.

This gap protects you from overconfident claims. When someone says "it always works" based on a few examples, ask for the deductive proof or the counterexample.