the art of the socratic conversation

@dabambic / West Island College

Philosophy for Teens

The Art of the Socratic

Conversation

Using Questions to Aim at Truth



Cultivate prior knowledge

You need to have some background

and prior thinking about the topic. It

helps to know the different sides of

the issue, be familiar with the terrain

of the dispute, the familiar objections

and pitfalls. What do people

commonly agree or disagree upon?



Listen for understanding & planning Questions are the essential

tool of the cross examiner

but so is listening and

planning. When you really

listen, you are better able to

understand their point of

view.



Listen for understanding & planning Socrates looked for the

‘rule’ or the ‘general’.

specific general=inductive reasoning

He looked for the weak

spot in the initial

position/premise.



Look for weak spots

Hunt out weakness,

contradictions and ‘fuzzy’

definitions. Be wary of

clichés and over

generalizations.



Questions are the guide

Use your questions as the

guide that leads the

interlocutor to some

admission (ignorance?

change of heart?) or a

realization.



Know where the questions lead:

reveal the hidden assumptionsLike Socrates, you have a

plan where the cross-

examination will lead the

interlocutor. Instead of

saying, “No, that’s wrong”,

you gently lead the

conversation to its end point

- which you have devised.



HIDDEN ASSUMPTIONS - THE KEY(extra because it’s so

important)The more you have thought

about the issue, the better

able you will be at spotting

the hidden assumptions.

Find the ‘unspoken reasons

for believing’ and you will

have found the key.



Discover where the questions lead

Also like Socrates, you are

a lover of wisdom and truly

want to ‘discover’ the

answer with your

interlocutor. In this case,

you are not leading but

discovering with them as

you go along.



Consensus as a road to truth

Your goal is not to

demolish the interlocutor.

You are not arrogant but a

lover of wisdom. Aim for

consensus and try to win

the interlocutor’s trust that

you both share the same

aim - truth.



Voice both sides

Make both sides clear and

voice both agreements and

disagreements. Rephrase,

summarize and re-frame

the definitions and

questions as you proceed.



Progress through resolution

Each side can give and

take a little through the

conversation. What can

you concede? What can be

gained by some resolution

without compromising it all?



It is not about winning

Remember the truth is what is

valued; not being right. It’s OK if

“Socrates” gets it wrong. This

is not a cat and mouse game but

an honest (though difficult)

conversation aimed at

establishing the truest possible

conclusion. Be willing to judge

your own position.

the art of the socratic conversation

Education