Socratic method

Type of dialog or debate

Entitytechnique inquiry-based learningQ839475

Also known as maieutics · method of elenchus · elenctic method · Socratic debate · questioning · interrogation

Instance of: technique
, inquiry-based learning
Subclass of: Socratic dialogue

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

The Socratic method is a form of argumentative dialogue in which an individual probes a conversation partner on a topic, using questions and clarifications, until the partner is pressed to come to a conclusion on their own, or else their reasoning breaks down and they are forced to admit ignorance. The method is also known as Socratic debate, the maieutic method, or the Socratic dialectic, and sometimes equated with the Greek term elenchus. Socratic dialogues between characters employing this method feature in many of the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, where a fictionalized version of his real-life teacher Socrates debates or expounds upon various philosophical issues with a partner.

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24 statements · 50% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Named after: Socrates

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Source last edited October 1, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). Socratic method (Q839475). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/socratic-method-Q839475