In this post, we present a straightforward yet revealing task: classifying 25 philosophical and scientific arguments as either deductive or inductive. We tested Mistral Le Chat on this argument classification task to evaluate its ability to distinguish between these fundamental forms of reasoning. Le Chat demonstrated a solid grasp of logical structure, performing the task with notable consistency. This experiment illustrates the model’s competence in recognising argument forms and its applicability in structured analytical tasks such as logical annotation.
Prompt
To assess Mistral Le Chat’s ability to recognise different types of reasoning, we prepared a classification task involving 25 philosophical and scientific arguments. Each argument had to be labelled as either deductive or inductive, without explanation. The prompt instructed the model to return the original arguments, numbered and followed by the appropriate label in bold. This setup allowed us to test the model’s logical discrimination skills in a controlled and transparent way.
Determine whether the following 25 arguments are inductive or deductive. For each case, return the argument with its original numbering, followed by the appropriate label in bold on the same line.
Do not explain your reasoning – simply assign the label. The output should follow this format:
1. [Argument text] Deductive
2. [Argument text] Inductive
(and so on, until 25)
1. If a number is divisible by two, then it is even. The number 24 is divisible by two. Therefore, it is even.
2. Biodiversity loss has preceded ecological collapse in every known historical case. Therefore, current biodiversity loss may also lead to collapse.
3. Every major epidemic in the past century was followed by an economic recovery. Therefore, it is likely that the same will happen after COVID-19.
4. If there is no regulation, markets tend toward monopoly. Currently, there is no regulation. Therefore, the market will monopolise.
5. Quantum measurements are often indeterministic. Hence, particle behaviour is likely not fully deterministic.
6. Anyone who always tells the truth is honest. Anna always tells the truth. Therefore, Anna is honest.
7. If the theory of relativity is correct, then gravity affects the passage of time. Gravity does affect the passage of time. Therefore, the theory is correct.
8. Every time I sleep fewer than six hours, my memory worsens the next day. So if I sleep little tonight, my memory will likely suffer tomorrow.
9. All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
10. All logical contradictions are false. The following statement is a contradiction. Therefore, it is false.
11. Every major technological revolution—steam power, electricity, the internet—has transformed labour markets. Therefore, artificial intelligence will likely do the same.
12. All living beings with nervous systems are capable of feeling pain. Fish have nervous systems. Therefore, fish are capable of feeling pain.
13. The greatest ethical breakthroughs in history often emerged during crises—Socrates, Kant, Camus. Thus, new moral frameworks are likely to emerge in times of turmoil.
14. All Nobel Prize-winning economists in the past two decades have published in the American Economic Review. Hence, it is probable that future winners will also publish there.
15. If a system is closed, its entropy increases over time. This system is closed. Therefore, its entropy will increase.
16. Every swan observed so far has been white. Therefore, it is probable that all swans are white.
17. Most studies in social science show a positive correlation between education and political participation. Hence, increasing education is likely to increase political participation.
18. Every day, the neighbour’s dog has barked when I walked past. Therefore, it will probably bark again today.
19. All postmodern authors reject objective truth. Foucault is a postmodern author. Therefore, he rejects objective truth.
20. The past decade has seen a 2.7% annual decline in Arctic ice. Therefore, it is likely that summers will be ice-free within 50 years.
21. If the theory of evolution is accurate, we should observe gradual change in fossil records. Such changes are observed. Therefore, the theory is accurate.
22. Most dogs are afraid of loud noises like thunder. Therefore, this dog is probably afraid of thunder.
23. All moral laws must be universally applicable. This rule cannot be universally applied. Therefore, it is not a moral law.
24. If a theory is logically coherent and empirically confirmed, it is scientifically acceptable. This theory meets both criteria. Therefore, it is acceptable.
25. If the relativist claim that “no truth is universal” were true, it would apply to itself and thus contradict itself. Therefore, relativism is false.
Output
Mistral Le Chat completed the task with full accuracy. It correctly labelled all 25 arguments as either inductive or deductive, in line with standard classifications used in logic and philosophy. The model reliably identified deductive structures such as categorical syllogisms and conditional reasoning, as well as inductive patterns based on generalisation, analogy, or probability.
The full output generated by Mistral Le Chat can be found below.
Recommendations
Given Mistral Le Chat’s consistent and accurate performance on this structured classification task, we recommend it as a reliable tool for logic-related annotation work. Its ability to distinguish deductive from inductive reasoning with clarity suggests potential for wider use in philosophy, critical thinking education, and AI-assisted analysis of argumentative texts. While this was a relatively contained experiment, it demonstrates that Mistral Le Chat is not only linguistically capable but also well-suited to basic logical reasoning tasks.
The authors used Mistral Le Chat [Mistral (2025) Mistral Le Chat (accessed on 9 May 2025), Large language model (LLM), available at: https://www.mistral.ai] to generate the output.
