This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!
This the fifth installment in an ongoing series entitled, “Asking the Right Questions.”
An Educational Turning Point
I can remember a distinct turning point in my college experience. During the fall semester my junior year I took BIBC 215 History of Christianity. It was an elective course, but it was pretty intimidating so most of the people that took that class actually wanted to be there. However, the class had a problem–we had to cover over 2000 years of history in only 30 class periods. Sure, as a student I had it rough, but the real challenge was my professor’s. How was he to decide what points in this large swath of history were the most important while still doing justice to the entirety of the church’s historical narrative? It was impossible, really.
Instead of trying to lecture through so many years of church history, my professor put us in control of the content. Before every class period he expected each of us to read the relevant textbook assignment and prepare five unique and thoughtful questions. Once in class, he did not lecture. Instead, he allowed us to control what we learned and how quickly we discussed. He simply facilitated the discussion. I didn’t know it at the time, but the technique he employed is called the Socratic Method, and it radically changed the way I look at education.
The Socratic Method: From Answers to Questions
The Socratic Method is the process of guided learning and facilitated discussion through disciplined inquiry.
It is named after the renowned Greek philosopher Socrates. As a teacher, Socrates was known for repeatedly asking his students questions to expose contradictions in thinking and get to the foundations of their reasoning. Through his example in teaching and dialogue, many teachers and students have utilized this method for learning throughout the centuries since.
When my professor introduced his Socratic classroom model at the beginning of the semester we were all pretty fearful. Most of us had never been challenged to take control of our own education in such a way before. However, we quickly learned to love the model because it changed the way we thought about our reading material, our classroom time, and our own learning. By taking the role of facilitator rather than lecturer, my professor taught us that the questions we ask are actually more important the facts we learn.
By using the Socratic method in my History of Christianity class we not only learned the pertinent information for passing the course, but we also honed our critical thinking abilities. That is the most valuable effect of Socratic inquiry and why it will help you on your journey to personal growth and continual learning.
Six types of Socratic Questions
For you to be able to use Socratic questions to sharpen your critical thinking skills you have to first understand what they are. With enough practice you will notice various Socratic-type questions every day that you either ask yourself, ask others, or have others ask you. There are six general types of Socratic questions:
- Questions for clarification
- Questions that probe assumptions
- Questions that probe reasons and evidence
- Questions about viewpoints and perspectives
- Questions that probe implications and consequences
- Questions about the questions.
I think it is best to explore these options using a little thought experiment to see how applying Socratic questions can help you learn and grow. So, here is the question: How do I become more successful?
Questions for clarification
You should ask clarification questions in order to define the terms of the question and understand exactly what is being asked. What is success? Why do I want to be more successful?
Questions that probe assumptions
Each question is supported by various a priori assumptions. In order for you to properly answer the question you must first analyze those assumptions. Is success a single, measureable entity? Am I really not successful enough?
Questions that probe reasons and evidence
This type of question gains information either supporting or refuting the claims of the question. Who is an example of someone more successful than me? How did that person become successful?
Questions about viewpoints and perspectives
An important step in expanding your critical thinking is the ability to take a second look for a different perspective. Are there any other ways to measure success? How do other people view me? What if I am actually more successful than the people I compare myself to?
Questions that probe implications and consequences
Here you need to look at the possible outcomes of the first question. What will I have to give up to reach my definition of success? Whose life will be made better by my success? Whose life will be made worse? How will people view me if I become more successful? What will happen if I fail?
Questions about the question
Finally, you should ask questions about the initial question itself. Why did I ask this question? Why is the answer important? How can I apply the answer to this question to my life?
Using the Socratic Method to Learn and Teach
Socratic questioning is a versatile method for education. You can use it both to learn and to teach with high levels of success. The example we used in our exploration of the six types of Socratic questions demonstrates how to use Socratic questions to learn about ourselves and our environment. The question, “How do I become more successful?” is a reflective question that analyzes the questioner’s current situation and future goals.
While reflection is an effective way to utilize the Socratic method, it can also be used for investigation. In my article “Investigation Questions: Simple Questions to Learn More Everyday” I discussed Polaroid’s founder Edwin Land and his breakthrough “Why?” question, Why do we have to wait for the picture? As a method of discovery and innovation Land could have used the six Socratic questions to take himself from “Why?” to “What if?” to “How?”
Finally, the Socratic method can be used to teach others. Remember, the Socratic method is traditionally used in classroom settings with a teacher questioning her class. Using this method to teach others something you have learned is an effective way to sharpen your own skills and knowledge. In the Socratic method, the question assumes a position of ignorance. Therefore, while it is important for you to have a good understanding of the topic being questioned, expert knowledge is not necessary. If you use the Socratic method to guide someone else in her discovery of new information it will help strengthen your understanding of the topic as well by forcing you to analyze the consistency of her answers and ask questions that guide her in the proper direction.
Taking Action with the Socratic Method
I write a lot about questions. In doing so, I hope to drive you to ask more and better questions about yourself, your life and others. Often times questioning can be seen as a medium of doubt, but I want you to see questioning as a vehicle of learning. How can you ask better questions this week? A great exercise in the Socratic method is to find someone interested in a skill or topic in which you have experience. Rather than directly teaching her what you know, guide her to better understanding through Socratic questions.