SOCRATES AND SOCRATIC METHOD

Socrates (469-399BC)—often considered the father of western philosophy

  1. Funny thing is he never recorded any of his thoughts.
  2. One of his students Plato, kept his teachings and beliefs alive in his writings documenting Socrates incarceration and eventually, his execution.
  3. Socrates believed that Wisdom is defined as the awareness of our own ignorance, especially through the acquisition of self-awareness and self-knowledge.
  4. Self-awareness and self-knowledge were key to becoming an individual who can think and analyze for himself/herself.
  5. He taught the importance of virtues—humility, frugality, and simplicity.
  6. He supposedly loved to go to the market and once replied to his students questioning why he loved going there, “I love to go and see all things I am happy without.”
  7. He believed in seeking truth on all things by asking questions and constantly dissecting all viewpoints and ideas.

Socratic Method (also called Method of Elenchus or Socratic Debate)

  1. The primary concept is an original question is responded to as though it were an answer. This in turn forces the first questioner to reformulate a new question in light of how the discussion progresses.
  2. This process is normally used between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate rational thinking and to illuminate or expand upon or discover new ideas.
  3. Socrates used this method of discussion to the Athenian youth.
  4. The Oracle of Delphi was said to have confirmed that Socrates was the wisest man in Greece. Socrates saw this as a paradox (where something is contradicting yet also maintains a truth) and began utilizing this method in order to answer his conundrum or dilemma of the Oracle’s statement.
  5. He questioned everything and everyone and became a “teacher” of this philosophy. He devoted himself to free-wheeling discussion with the youth Athens. He continued to question their unwarranted confidence in the truth of popular opinions, even though he offered them no clear alternative teaching. That was the whole point. Not everything should have one majority rules explanation, truth, definition, etc.
  6. This philosophy was rejected by sophists (teachers/followers of rhetoric) and the governing members of Greece. He was forced to make a public apology to the citizens of Athens; yet, his apology was quite the opposite and only proved that he believes in thinking for yourself and never accepting a statement as truth unless you have truly researched its roots.
  7. He was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock.
  8. In Plato’s Crito, one of Socrates’ loyal students broke into the dungeon to help Socrates escape the night before he was to be executed. He refused to leave because he believed that would only prove what the government and the elders believed all along—that he was guilty in corrupting the youth to attempt to overthrow the present government and believes.
  9. Socrates wanted to die with dignity because he believed that everyone will think what they want, but those that speak up and mentally fight for what they think are the true scholars and leaders in this world.
  10. The next day, he drank the hemlock and died in the company of his friends and disciples.

For our Socratic Circle Discussion, one question will be posed by the teacher and then volunteers will be called upon to begin the discussion/debate. Limit responses to 1 minute and then the speaking student will call upon another volunteer (do not limit to calling on friends). If the discussion peters out for one question, the teacher will jump in and pose another. Students will be graded on a rubric that will be discussed in class. This is worth 10 points.