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 · Tuesday at 10:46 AM

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 · Tuesday at 11:00 AM

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.

Akita Suggagaki · 2026-02-11T09:27:34-0600

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

Yes but it is lopsided. What if their thoughts are wrong and even incoherent? And happy to spew them all day

Larniavc · 2026-02-11T13:01:57-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
Yes but it is lopsided. What if their thoughts are wrong and even incoherent? And happy to spew them all day

Then I sit back and think about lunch time and trust the other people in the group have learnt what incoherent looks like.

Akita Suggagaki · 2026-02-11T14:26:24-0600

Larniavc said:
Then I sit back and think about lunch time and trust the other people in the group have learnt what incoherent looks like.

I think there is value in asking questions that highly inconsistency or error. I have tried the technique and find it awkward. I am so used to a more equal conversional give and take. Mire than ever I think there is an art and skill to conversation. Not just debate or argument, rhetoric or persuasion, conversation itself.

And I have noticed how some people have no conversational awareness, as in who is doing mist of the talking, who seems engaged, who seems withdrawn, who seems interested and why. Listening is a skill we can all work on. Then our response makes all the difference.

Larniavc · 2026-02-11T15:12:01-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
Listening is a skill we can all work on. Then our response makes all the difference.

Yeah, therapists get a ton of training in active listening and information gathering.

Akita Suggagaki · 2026-02-11T15:14:04-0600

Larniavc said:
Yeah, therapists get a ton of training in active listening and information gathering.

I think we all need the skills since our culture is in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Larniavc · 2026-02-11T15:22:02-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
I think we all need the skills since our culture is in the midst of a mental health crisis.

It’s always been that way. As society becomes more aware of aspects of the human condition we shine a light on what was formerly hidden or pushed to the margins of society.

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HOW TO PROGRESS FROM DEBATE TO DIALOGUE USING THE SOCRATIC METHOD

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you're in charge you can do it just get louis

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Orthodox Christian

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"Larniavc sir, how are you so smart?"

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"Larniavc sir, how are you so smart?"

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"Larniavc sir, how are you so smart?"

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"Larniavc sir, how are you so smart?"

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