HOW TO PROGRESS FROM DEBATE TO DIALOGUE USING THE SOCRATIC METHOD

Akita Suggagaki · Sunday at 6:54 PM

How to Progress From Debate to Dialogue Using the Socratic Method

The Socratic method? What on earth is that and why should I care? Great questions. I have been professionally taught (as a bomb disposal officer) and tea

therightquestions.co

Formulating good questions is not always easy. And if the other person is not rational, there is no point. But then we are wasting our time anyway. But I think it good practice to listen and ask.

Nithavela · Monday at 4:56 AM

I don't like the "socratic method" because it basically just assumes that there is a correct answer and everyone already knows that correct answer, you just have to guide them towards it with leading questions. In reality, people will not just change their viewpoints when you point out logical inconsistencies, they are more likely to double down because of cognitive dissonance. Chalking this up to dishonest debating is in itself dishonest because everyone is prone to such faulty thinking.

It's also very lopsided in it's approach, since if one uses the socratic method, they just interact with the other person's viewpoints without putting their own thoughts "out there" to criticise and correct.

This might be an okay approach for a teacher-student setting or something both sides are completely dispassionate about, but it neither makes for fair, fruitful nor engaging debates.

Akita Suggagaki · Monday at 6:35 PM

Nithavela said:
I don't like the "socratic method" because it basically just assumes that there is a correct answer and everyone already knows that correct answer, you just have to guide them towards it with leading questions. In reality, people will not just change their viewpoints when you point out logical inconsistencies, they are more likely to double down because of cognitive dissonance. Chalking this up to dishonest debating is in itself dishonest because everyone is prone to such faulty thinking.

It's also very lopsided in it's approach, since if one uses the socratic method, they just interact with the other person's viewpoints without putting their own thoughts "out there" to criticise and correct.

This might be an okay approach for a teacher-student setting or something both sides are completely dispassionate about, but it neither makes for fair, fruitful nor engaging debates.

I don’t think it assumes a correct answer but it is lopsided. Of course nine of us are probably much practiced in it. We shift right to poor argument.

Lukaris · Monday at 7:35 PM

Video is less than 2 minutes

Akita Suggagaki · 2026-02-10T10:46:30-0600

Lukaris said:
Video is less than 2 minutes

Very good. But it seems to take a Charles Kingsfield or Socrates to ask the right questions.

Larniavc · 2026-02-10T11:00:50-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
How to Progress From Debate to Dialogue Using the Socratic Method

The Socratic method? What on earth is that and why should I care? Great questions. I have been professionally taught (as a bomb disposal officer) and tea

therightquestions.co

Formulating good questions is not always easy. And if the other person is not rational, there is no point. But then we are wasting our time anyway. But I think it good practice to listen and ask.

I love the Socratic method. I just ask people ‘what are your thoughts on x’, sit back and listen sagaciously.

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HOW TO PROGRESS FROM DEBATE TO DIALOGUE USING THE SOCRATIC METHOD

Akita Suggagaki

Well-Known Member