Socratic Questioning

The Socratic method is a form of critical thinking that uses six types of questions to expose contradictions in thought or ideas allowing for objective analysis.

The Forms:

• Clarification

• Assumption

• Reason / Evidence

• Perspective

• Consequence

• About the question

With these forms six forms one uses critical analysis to identify bias, false conclusions etc. and work towards a solid usable conclusion.

The goal of Socratic questioning is not to demean nor to put oneself upon a pedestal but to seek out the truth or best possible conclusion from the information we have.

Questions:

Can you clarify your position?

Can you explain it in more detail?

How is this related?

Why did you say that?

What are you assuming in order to answer this?

Do you have examples of this in real life; historical or current?

What has caused you to believe this?

Do you have any evidence?

Are you operating from a place of bias or discrimination?

Who benefits or looses from the consequences?

Can you see this from another point of view?

Does this relate to previous knowledge?

How does X affect Y?

What are the implications?

What would be an alternative to this?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of this position?

What is a counter argument to this?

What does it mean?

What is the point of the inquiry?

Does this apply to every day living?

Are you being objective?

The one thing that the Athenians didn't understand about Socrates when he was asking questions was that he wasn't doing it to demean them. Instead he saw them as equals in the pursuit of truth.