
One possible response to this question would be to say that there is a difference between the State and the Nation in America. Therefore, the people of China are more populous than the people of the United States.” “The entire population of China is larger than that of the United States. There are indeed many variations on this typical Socratic Dialectic method. In this way, the dialogue is not just an exchange of propositions but also of thoughts.

He asked him questions and then corrected his reasoning. When Socrates was asked by his students to prove a man wrong, he did it the same way. This is called a paradox in logic and can be used in Socratic Dialectic as well. Both statements can be true while one is the opposite of the other. Or, you might end up with a conclusion that neither allows its own premises nor contradicts them. Once you found one or more ways to disprove it, you would want to provide an explanation as to why your evidence is wrong. Or think about proving that the claim is false. Socratic Dialectic seeks to expose inconsistencies and logical fallacies in one’s own arguments. This process can be used to ask oneself how valid different arguments are. How can the information on the Internet be used to prove it true? If the United States is richer than any other country in the world, what evidence would support that claim? You can start by asking yourself the following questions: This is a claim about which there are many different definitions, such as “The most valuable currency,” or “The wealthiest country in the world,” or “Largest economy” etc.ĭo you think there is a way to easily prove this claim to be true? “The United States is richer than any other country in the world.” Say you are working on a class presentation for an assignment and you come across the following: Applying Socratic Dialectic to an argument The premise is presented as an assumption that needs to be supported by evidence or experience. The Socratic Dialectic method often starts with a premise and works backwards to see how that premise can be defended through reasoning.

The Socratic Dialectic method is not to be confused with “making an argument” as if it were a mathematical theorem, but rather, extends this by looking at the underlying premises that come together to form an argument. The question is a statement about the issue itself. Socratic Dialectic works with open-ended questions that divide the value placed on a particular issue. It looks for contradiction because it seeks to expose that which is false, or at least false-to- self. The Socratic Dialectic method is a form of syllogistic reasoning. Socratic Dialectic is a method of inquiry seeking to expose the contradictions and irrationality of arguments in one’s mind. The application of the Socratic Diactectic methods This method was used as a tool in expressing one’s own beliefs and in questioning those of others. In this way, Socrates is seeking to refute the claims of his interlocutors he does not suspend judgment or accept any definitions of justice without question. In Plato’s early dialogues, Socrates debates other men who have various beliefs about virtues and definitions of justice. The dialectical method was invented by the Greek philosopher Socrates (469-399 BCE) and is named after the Greek word διαλεκτική, which means “dialectic.” There are believed to have been many Socratic dialogues on a variety of topics, ranging from politics and ethics to logic and metaphysics.

One benefits from this process by getting a clearer picture of what their opponent thinks, feels, or believes, without taking anything for granted. The goal for the person using the Socratic dialectic method is not necessarily to come to a specific “ truth“, but rather, it is often an attempt to expose inconsistencies in the other person’s argument. A Socratic dialectic method is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and draw out ideas and underlying presumptions.
