A Taxonomy of Socratic Questions

A Taxonomy of Socratic Questions

Socrates liked to ask questions. (His was an examined life, indeed.) And asking questions remains a critical way of clarifying thought during a debate or discussion. The following is an overview of the Socratic questioning method, a categorization adapted from Richard Paul’s Critical Thinking: How to Prepare Students for a Rapidly Changing World. The categories:

• questions of clarification
• questions that probe assumptions
• questions that probe reasons and evidence
• questions about viewpoints or perspectives
• questions that probe implications and consequences
• questions about the question

Questions of clarification

These questions ask for verification, additional information or clarification of a main idea or point being made: Why do you say that? How does this relate to our discussion? Are you going to include information about …?

Questions that probe assumptions

These may ask for clarification, verification or explanation of what is being assumed by another person’s statement. The reliability of a an assumption may also be questioned, and other possible assumptions may be identified: What could we assume instead? How can you verify or disprove the assumption?

Questions that probe reasons and evidence

These ask probing questions for additional examples, evidence that has been discovered, reasons for making statements, the adequacy for the reasons, the process that leads one to this belief … or anything that would change one’s mind on the issue: What would be an example of that? What is that analogous to? What and why do you think causes that to happen?

Questions about viewpoints or perspectives

These ask whether alternative viewpoints or perspectives exist, how other people or groups might respond, what an opposing argument might be, or what comparisons or contrasts might be drawn: What’s another way of looking at this? Would you explain why this is necessary or beneficial? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this? What’s a possible counter-argument?

Questions that probe implications and consequences

These attempt to identify or tease out possible effects, the alternatives that might be feasible, or the cause-and-effect of a position or action: What generalizations can you make from this? What are the consequences of that assumption? What are you implying?

Questions about the question

These identify the question, main point or issue at hand, and why it is important. Additionally, the question may be broken into separate components or concepts: What is the point of that question? How does that apply to everyday life? What does that mean?