Socratic Discourse

Also called: the Socratic Method or Socratic Dialogue

Margreet de Heer

Jan 12, 2025

Transcript

The Socratic Discourse

Socrates discussed several ethical issues with his friends. By continuing to ask questions he tried to reveal the amount of true knowledge in his sparring partner.

Sparring partner: “Blah blah blah blah blah”

Socrates: “Really? Is that so?”

Sparring partner: “Well yes ‘coz blah blah…”

Socrates: “Is it? So: blah?”

Sparring partner: “I think so. Or do I…?”

Socrates: “That’s OK then!”

This technique of Socratic Discourse is still widely taught, to help people clearly formulate their ideas and evaluate their experience.

A typical Socratic Discussion may contain the following elements:

Select a STARTING QUESTION. A good question is general, fundamental and simply formulated
Find an example in PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. Name facts and perception of facts.
Formulate the CORE QUESTION. In no more than seven words. A universal ethical dilemma.
Look for RULES AND PRINCIPLES. And keep evaluating personal experience.

Questions for further discussion

Why does Socrates put such an emphasis on personal experience?
According to Socrates, a good ethical question is “general”, i.e. it applies to a broad array of people and situations. Do you agree? Are there certain ethical questions that are only applicable to a small group or very specific situations? Can you formulate one?
If you found an answer to the question above: can you find a way to reword that question so that it would apply to a broader situation?