Socrates and the Socratic method

In short: Socrates (469–399 BC) was a philosopher in Athens who made people think through questions. The Socratic method exposes contradictions in assumptions and leads to clearer concepts.

In more detail: He wrote nothing himself; we know his thinking mainly from Plato’s dialogues.

In detail

• Asking instead of teaching: Socrates skilfully asked questions until his interlocutors recognised their contradictions themselves.
• “I know that I know nothing”: Awareness of one’s own ignorance as the beginning of wisdom.
• Clarifying concepts: What is justice, courage, virtue?
• Trial: Convicted in 399 BC of impiety and corrupting the youth; he drank the hemlock.
• Midwifery (maieutics): He saw himself as a midwife of thoughts.
• Today: Method in coaching, teaching and therapy.
• Influence: Founder of Western ethics (was-ist-philosophie, platons-hoehlengleichnis).