Socratic method
Questioning as pedagogy
The Socratic method is a form of inquiry through dialogue, named for the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.
Rather than lecturing, the teacher poses a series of questions that lead students to examine their assumptions and discover contradictions in their thinking.
The method aims to stimulate critical thinking and draw out ideas latent in the student's mind: Law schools famously use the Socratic method to train students in legal reasoning.
Greek philosopher, academy founder
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- AthenianAncient Greek city-dweller
- Ancient GreeceClassical Mediterranean civilization
- AcademyElite scholarly institution
Symposium · Aristophanes · gadfly · hemlock · agora · oracle · examined life
One who converses
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- refutationDisproving a statement
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
exchange · discourse · debate · inquiry · elicitation · challenge · counterexample · hypothetical
Prioritizing pupils in education
- facilitationMaking tasks easier
- critical thinkingObjective evaluation of information
- active learningEducation through direct participation
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
deep understanding · metacognition · formative assessment · seminar · tutorial · law school · flipped classroom
Inferring patterns from cases
- definitionStatement of meaning
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- counterexampleInstance disproving a claim
- logical consequenceWhat validly follows
reductio ad absurdum · premise · assumption · contradiction · refutation · truth-seeking · examination · clarification
Plato
Greek philosopher, academy founder
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- AthenianAncient Greek city-dweller
- Ancient GreeceClassical Mediterranean civilization
Academy · Symposium · Aristophanes · gadfly · hemlock · agora · oracle · examined life
interlocutor
One who converses
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- refutationDisproving a statement
dialectic · exchange · discourse · debate · inquiry · elicitation · challenge · counterexample · hypothetical · premise
student-centered
Prioritizing pupils in education
- facilitationMaking tasks easier
- critical thinkingObjective evaluation of information
- active learningEducation through direct participation
deep understanding · scaffolding · metacognition · formative assessment · seminar · tutorial · law school · flipped classroom
inductive reasoning
Inferring patterns from cases
- definitionStatement of meaning
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- counterexampleInstance disproving a claim
logical consequence · reductio ad absurdum · premise · assumption · contradiction · refutation · truth-seeking · examination · clarification · elucidation
- questionsquestion, inquiry, questions, query, interrogatives
- humanitiesphilosophy, history, literature, philosophy class, novels
- class discussionquestion, answer, comment, response, opinion
- ClassicalMozart, Beethoven, Haydn, symphony, sonata
- inquiryinquiry, investigation, questioning, examination, exploration
- teaching methodspresentation, lecturing, discussion, modeling, hands-on learning
Socratic methodlecturing
Giving an instructive talk
rote learning · spoon-feeding · memorization · catechism · chalk and talk
Socratic methoddogmatism
Unyielding adherence to doctrine
indoctrination · received wisdom · appeal to authority · authoritarianism
Socratic methodmonologue
Uninterrupted solo address
didacticism · proclamation · sermonizing · preaching · declamation