Socratic Questioning Technique
The Greek philosopher Socrates believed that thoughtful questioning enabled his students to engage in the logical examination of their argument in order to determine its validity.
Ways to use the Socratic method of questioning
- examine the validity of your argument by positioning yourself as your audience
- generate ideas
- expand and deepen your analysis
| Type of Question |
Example |
| Clarification |
- What do you mean by…?
- Could you put that another way?
- What do you think is the main issue?
- Could you give us an example?
- Could you expand upon that point further?
|
| Further inquiry about an initial question or issue |
- Why is this question important? (So what?)
- Is this question easy or difficult to answer?
- Why do you think that?
- Does this question lead to other important issues and questions?
|
| Assumptions |
- Why would someone make this assumption?
- What is (example) assuming here?
- What could we assume instead?
- You seem to be assuming .
- Do I understand you correctly?
|
| Reason and evidence |
- What would be an example?
- Why do you think this is true?
- What other information do we need?
- Could you explain your reason to us?
- By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion?
- Is there reason to doubt that evidence?
|
| Origin or source |
- Is this your idea or did you hear if from elsewhere?
- Have you always felt this way?
- Has your opinion been influenced by something or someone?
- Where did you get that idea?
- What caused you to think or feel that way?
|
| Implications and consequences |
- What effect would that have?
- Is that certain or probable?
- What is an alternative?
- What are you implying by that?
- If that happened, what else would happen as a result? Why?
|
| Viewpoint |
- How would other groups of people respond this question? Why?
- How could you answer the objection that (example) would make?
- What might someone who believed (example) think?
- What is an alternative?
- How are person A’s and person B’s ideas alike? Different?
|
Also see Rhetorical Situation and Appeals.
