What type of reasoning begins with general concepts or principles?

Deductive reasoning is a logical process where one starts with general statements or principles and applies them to specific cases to reach a conclusion. This method begins with established truths or theories and uses them to derive conclusions about specific instances. For example, if it's established as a general principle that all humans are mortal, and you know that Socrates is a human, you can deduce that Socrates is mortal.

This reasoning is often contrasted with inductive reasoning, which starts with specific observations and builds up to broader generalizations, along with other forms such as abstract and analogical reasoning that have different processes related to the relationships and similarities between concepts. Thus, the nature of deductive reasoning specifically highlights how general principles lead to specific conclusions, making it the correct choice.