Socratic Method

The Socratic method is a popular way of teaching a concept today . It was created by Socrates around 400 BC . Socrates attempted to teach his students by asking them a series of questions to lead them to answers as a way of discovery . These questions continued until Socrates was able to discover a contradiction in his students ' logic , thereby showing them that whatever they were arguing for could not be true . This method has been called a method of examination , and it is easy to see why Socrates is asking his students to

examine their beliefs logically before committing themselves to these beliefs . That is , Socrates has asked his students to examine what they are arguing very carefully

Socrates is one of the most famous philosophers of all time , but he wrote nothing down . It is mostly his students (Plato is the most famous of them ) who wrote down what he said and did . These texts show how Socrates encouraged his students to question things (like government policy . Of course , not everyone in Socrates ' time was d with his methods . In fact , he was eventually tried and convicted of corrupting youth because he encouraged them to question so much

The Euthyphro is a dialogue written by Plato and quoting Socrates and his method . The dialogue that occurs between Euthyphro and Socrates is one where they are discussing the accusations that have been made against Socrates regarding his corrupting the youth

Soc . And what is piety , and what is impiety

Euth . Piety is doing as I am doing that is to say , prosecuting any one who is guilty of murder , sacrilege , or of any similar crime-whether he be your father or mother , or whoever he may be-that makes no difference and not to prosecute them is impiety . And to consider , Socrates what a notable proof I will give you of the truth of my words , a proof which I have already given to others :-of the principle , I mean , that the impious , whoever he may be , ought not to go unpunished

This argument that starts in the middle of the dialogue is characteristic of the Socratic method . Socrates has asked Euthyphro an initial question , and Euthyphro answers . After his answer , Socrates continues to ask questions to bring Euthphyro to an final answer about piety and impiety . During this debate , Euthyphro is examinining his father 's upcoming trial for murder and why it is occurring , and Socrates is also looking at the accusations against himself regarding corruption of youth . This method of examination is helping both of them to understand why these accusations were made , and whether or not they are correct

The Apology is also written by Plato , and is about Socrates ' defense of himself regarding the same accusations . A quote from it shows the beginning of another of Socrates ' examinations

Come hither , Meletus , and let me ask a question of you . You think a great deal about the improvement of youth

Yes , I do

Tell the judges , then , who...