The Socratic MethodAn Introduction

Peter Harteloh (www.filosofischepraktijk.com)

Nanjing May 2013

Philosophical Practice

• Philosophy as a way of life (Pierre Hadot) • Individual consultations • Socratic group dialogue• Philosophizing with people not necessarily trained

in philosophy about issues in life• Outside universities, at the market place

“The Socratic Method is (i) the art of teaching not philosophy, but

philosophizing; (ii) the art not of teaching about philosophers, but of making philosophers of the students”

Leonard Nelson, 1922

Socratic Method

• Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): investigation of fundamental presuppositions and concepts

• Socrates (470-399 BCE) for the (i) art of questioning, (ii) the attitude of not knowing

Socratic Method

"Socrates questioned and examined and cross-examined his fellow citizens, not to convey a new truth to them in the manner of an instructor but only to point out the path along which it might be found.”

[Plato, Apology]

The Socratic Method: (i) Aimed at understanding:

(ii) “Philosophy does not rest on self-evident truths. On the contrary, its principles are the

focus of obscurity, uncertainty, and controversy”

Leonard Nelson, 1922

Socratic Method

• Questioning in order to reveal the “not-knowing” (Socratic attitude)

• Gathering of examples from ordinary life (Socrates)

• Reason from examples to most general presuppositions (Kant)

• Planned investigation into concepts (Socrates)

Socratic Method

• Investigate the concepts as such (definitions) (Socrates and Kant)

• Make pupils/people think

• Philosophy is thinking

• The Socratic Method is the way to teach philosophy, to philosophise

Socratic dialogue – Six Steps

1. Choose a topic (e.g. peace) & a question

2. Give examples from own experience

3. Which example suits the topic best?

4. Write out the example in detail

5. Examine underlying principle

6. Generalize answer (regressive abstraction)

Socratic dialogue – Dutch approach

1. Shorter (half a day)

2. Faster, e.g. by voting

3. Prepared by choosing question/theme

4. Several forms of dialogue (not only talking, but also walking etc.)

5. Aimed at reflexive experience

6. Attitude building

Socratic Method

Philosophy: ”It does not at all admit of verbal expression like other studies, but as a result of continued application to the subject itself and communion therewith, it is brought to birth in the soul on a sudden, as light that is kindled by a leaping spark, and thereafter it nourishes itself" (Nelson, 1922)

Questioning

Answering Interpreting

Understanding

Socratic Method

Philosophy

“But philosophy itself, that is to say, the mode of philosophical life, is no longer divided into parts, but a unique act that consists in living logic, physics and ethics” (Pierre Hadot)

Socratic Dialogue

• A dialogue between participants, in such a way that thoughts and thinking are grounded in experience.

• The dialogue has a focus (the theme or the question), a process in time (day-week) and a conceptual articulation (thoughts)

• Philosophical experience

A Socratic Dialogue on

Friendship

Socratic dialogue – Six Steps

1. Choose a theme/question (e.g. peace)

2. Give examples from own experience

3. Which example suits the topic best?

4. Write out the example in detail

5. Examine underlying principle

6. Generalize answer (regressive abstraction)

The theme/question

• Fundamental questions: What is friendship?

• Question can be related to examples• Examples can be related to experience of

participants• Avoid technical questions (How to fly to

the moon?)

The example

• An event in time related to the central theme or question

• From the experience of participants• In the past (not too long ago, not too recent)• Participants are willing to tell, explain and

examine the example• Not too emotional or personal

Choice of the example

• Participants choose an example (which example suits the theme/question best?)

• Participants question the example (why is this a good example of x?)

• Participants analyse the example

Analysis of the example

• Write out the example in detail

• Number sentences/scene by participant

• Where in example is x located?

• Write out answers

• Choose answer to examine

Examine underlying principle

• Reflection on statements chosen and reasons given

• What is (most) general form of this statement? – write out

• Application to other example (fit?)

• Readjustment if necessary

Regressive abstraction

• What are the presuppositions of the underlying principle?

• Write out the presuppositions + arguments

• Final understanding …. or aporia