Tag: logic
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Strategy in the Socratic method
Questions lead to different answers depending on how they are asked and in which sequence. Without the right strategy, it is unlikely that questioning will lead to the truth; once a debate starts meandering, it is hard to get it back on track. That’s why it is crucially important, from the very beginning, to devise…
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Examples of questions in the Socratic method
It seems difficult to believe that you can get ahead in life just by asking questions, but is this not what Socrates did? Did he not claim that we can find out the truth just by asking a torrent of questions to other people or to ourselves? Not exactly. The Socratic method is more subtle…
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Vested interests in the Socratic method
Philosophy, like all other social sciences, carries enormous vested interests on its shoulders. For instance, it makes a world of difference whether one endorses the ideas of Plato (427-347 BC) or those of Aristotle (384-322 BC). In the case of Socrates, there is a large difference between the defenders and the critics of the Socratic…
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Structure of the Socratic method
The Socratic method employs pre-Aristotelian logic, that is, a logic that is not structured in syllogisms. Socrates didn’t start his debates with a general statement and then, little by little, in a sequence of steps, built a waterproof philosophical argument. After Socrates’ death in 399 BC, it took two generations to arrive at the Aristotelian…
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Strengths and weaknesses of the Socratic method
Philosophy historians praise Socrates for having conceived an original method of inquiry. They claim that his approach to philosophy was far superior to anything attempted before him. They regard the Socratic method as a key epistemological innovation that still proves valuable nowadays in areas such as education, courtroom cross-examinations, cognitive therapy or coaching in general.…
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A recurring error in the Socratic method
It is extraordinarily naive to hope to find the truth by asking random questions. Even if we ask lots of questions, there is no the slightest guarantee that we will get closer to the truth. Even Socrates himself never claimed that “the Socratic method” was infallible or foolproof. What is the proof that I am…
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How to practise the Socratic method
If someone had directly asked Socrates (469-399 BC) how to practise the Socratic method, I fear that no answer would be forthcoming. Socrates would have been puzzled to learn that his practice of asking questions had been baptised “a method.” Indeed, when analysing the Socratic questioning recorded in Plato’s works, the impression is more chaotic…
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Morality in Aristotle’s teachings on logic and reasoning
The choice of a method in logic determines all other choices in your life. It determines the scope and depth of your thinking, your concept of happiness, your drive and your steadfastness. In contrast to other systems of logic, the one delineated by Aristotle (384-322 BC) understands the importance of purpose and gives a central…
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The superiority of Aristotle’s teachings on logic and reasoning
If your logic is slightly wrong, even one per cent wrong, you will end up completely lost fairly soon. Over time, your errors will compound and the consequences will eventually wipe you out. No one can escape the deleterious effects of faulty logic. There are three aspects that render Aristotelian logic vastly superior to other…
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Key ideas in Aristotle’s teachings on logic and reasoning
The philosophy of logic and reason developed by Aristotle (384-322 BC) is different from computer logic, religious logic, and other types of logic that have existed in history. There are three distinct features that render Aristotelian logic unique. I’m going to present those three features, one by one. First, Aristotelian logic is linked to language.…
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Recent Posts
- Key ideas of Socrates’ ethics philosophy
- Socrates and communication skills
- What can we learn from Socrates today?
- Advantages and disadvantages of the Socratic method
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