Intro to the philosophy of the human person ch 2-1 socratic method of philosophizing

Socratic Method of Philosophizing
Chapter 2 (Methods of philosophizing)
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Objectives
• At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
• define and explain the Socratic method of
philosophizing,
• analyze expressions and statements that show the
differences of opinion, fact, and truth, and
• justify the validity of the statement “The Socratic
method of philosophizing leads to wisdom and
truth.”
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Introduction
• Your teacher asked you to give a concrete definition
of love. You confidently answered the question: “Love
is kind. Love is patient.”
• However, instead of accepting your answer, she
responded to you with another question: “Yes, but
what do you mean by kindness and patience?”
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Introduction
Surprised, you answered her question again, this time
giving some examples to raise your point. Your teacher
continued to ask you further questions as responses to
your statements.
• Why did your teacher do that?
• What was she doing?
• What did she want to get from you in doing so?
Find out the answer in this lesson!
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Learn about it!
In the given scenario, the teacher kept on asking about
your responses to the questions. What she did is
called Socratic questioning – a type of interrogative
statement that clarifies points through understanding
the deeper meaning of a claim.
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Methods of Philosophizing
A method of philosophizing is a process of determining
the truth or drawing a conclusion from a statement
using various philosophical methods, such as:
– Socratic,
– dialectic,
– scientific, and
– historical.
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The Socratic method, also known by the Greek
term elenchus that means "to inquire or to cross-
examine", is an exchange of ideas using Socratic
questioning.
• It was developed by Socrates, a Greek philosopher
and teacher, who laid the groundwork for Western
systems of philosophy and logic.
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• In this process, statements are deconstructed or
questioned to come up with the actual truth that is
believed to rest on the roots of the argument.
• Conflicting ideas are seen as invalid sources of the
truth, and probing questions are immediately derived
from the given statements.
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• In a classroom setting, this method is used not to
intimidate students, but to produce a deeper
understanding of thoughts and ideas through further
questioning statements or claims.
• There is no particular end goal aside from reaching an
absolute truth from probing statements and, in the
process, eliminating ideas that are questionable or
contradicting.
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Examples:
• A psychologist is trying to dig deeper into the story of
his patient who only mentions vague and general
ideas.
• A lawyer is asking further questions about the
suspect’s whereabouts during the crime because she
is not entirely convinced by his alibi.
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• A mother is questioning her son’s real reason for his
excessive absences from school.
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Opinion, Fact, and Truth
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• In using the Socratic method, it is important to
analyze expressions and statements that show the
differences of opinion, fact, and truth.
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Opinion
• An opinion is an expression of one’s feelings based
on facts, emotions, beliefs, or views. It is not based
on evidence.
Examples:
• Filipinos are the most resilient and hospitable people
in the world.
• Manny Pacquiao is the best Filipino boxer.
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Fact
• A fact is a statement that can be checked and backed up with evidence.
It is often used in conjunction with research and study.
Examples:
• Based on the Miss World Organization records, Megan Young was the
first Filipina to be crowned as Miss World. She won the title in 2013 in
Bali, Indonesia.
• According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country's total
population is 92,337,852. It is based on the recent May 2010 census.

Truth
• A truth is something that has actual and proven existence
scientifically and spiritually regardless of one’s opinion and
beliefs. It is undisputed, objective, universal, constant, exact,
and factual.
Examples:
• All things that can be seen are temporal. (undisputed)
• Two plus two equals four (2 + 2 = 4). (exact)
• The Philippines, as proven in geographical and anthropological
properties, is a country in Southeast Asia. (factual)
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• Opinion is what someone believes or thinks. A fact is
firmly planted in the material world, while truth
extends to the spiritual realm.
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Socratic Method Leads to Wisdom and Truth
The Socratic method has been emphasized to use
statement deconstructions and creative questioning to
delve deeper into an issue. It is a systematic process
whereby random and ambiguous ideas are eliminated
to reach a sound conclusion. Reaching an endpoint,
therefore, would only mean that truth has been
realized, and new knowledge has been acquired.
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Explore!
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Some students dread it when teachers involve the class in
the discussion by asking them to explain a certain topic or
concept. Usually, students do not immediately answer in
fear that they might be called upon to explain their
thoughts further—an activity they do not like or are not
prepared to do. Still, teachers continue to do this method
despite the minimal responses they get from their students.
Before this lesson, have you ever wondered why your
teachers do that technique? Do you now understand their
goals in doing so?

Try it!
• During a class discussion, try to engage in a Socratic
questioning exercise with your teacher. You may be the
one to initiate the process by asking your teacher any
relevant topic about the discussion. From there, you may
further ask questions related to your teacher's
responses. Continue to clarify your the responses until
you have fully grasped the idea presented. This activity
may also be done alternatively, with the teacher probing
you for your answers.
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Tip
• Regardless of how deep the probing process has
been, the primary area of focus during the Socratic
method would be the first statement. All succeeding
statements are brought about to support or refute
the claim of the initial argument.
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Keypoints
• A method of philosophizing is a process of
determining a truth or conclusion from a statement
through the use of various philosophical methods
such as Socratic, dialectic, historical, and scientific.
• Socrates was a Greek philosopher and teacher who
laid the groundwork for Western systems of
philosophy and logic.
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Keypoints
• Socratic questioning is a type of interrogative process
that clarifies points through understanding the
deeper meaning of a claim.
• The process of deconstructing or questioning
statements to come up with the actual truth is called
the Socratic Method.
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Question 1
What does the Greek word elenchus mean?
• Select your answer.
a) "to inquire“
b) "to implicate“
c) "to elaborate“
d) "to intrude"
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Question 2
What is Socrates' main contribution to Western
philosophy and logic?
a) He wrote an extensive book about it.
b) He asked his students to focus on it.
c) He laid out the foundation for it.
d) He saw it as the center of philosophy.
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Question 3
What type of interrogative method clarifies points
through understanding the deeper meaning of a claim?
a) Socratic questioning
b) Socratic theory
c) Socratic fact-truth Inquiry
d) Socratic philosophizing
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Question 4
Which of the following statements is true?
a) A truth is absolute.
b) A fact is undisputed.
c) An opinion is a fact.
d) Fact and truth are the same.
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Question 5
While using the Socratic method in your class discussion, two of
your classmates stated contradicting statements about the issue
at hand. What should you do with those contradictions?
a) Accept both statements as valid.
b) Ask the class to vote on which statement should be
accepted.
c) Do not accept any of the two statements as valid.
d) Ask the teacher her views about the statements.
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Question 6
A lawyer wants to further examine the statement of his client who said
that she “took her time” to pick out a dress before proceeding to the party
where the crime took place. If you were the lawyer, how would you probe
the statement of your client?
a) "How much time do you mean when you say that you 'took your
time'?“
b) "How much money did you bring to that party?“
c) "What is your relationship with the person who hosted the party?“
d) "What type of dress did you buy?“
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Question 7
What may be a pitfall when engaging in the Socratic
method?
a) People may have panic attacks from quick thinking.
b) Questioning may lead away from the actual purpose
of the argument.
c) Probing may reveal incoherent answers.
d) The argument may take too much time.
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Question 8
Which of the following statements is true?
1. Using the Socratic method helps develop critical
thinking.
2. The Socratic method only accepts factual statements.
a) Both statements 1 and 2 are false.
b) Statement 1 is true. Statement 2 is false.
c) Both statements 1 and 2 are true.
d) Statement 1 is false. Statement 2 is true.
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Question 9
Which statement describes the Socratic method?
1. Its conclusions do not involve conflicting ideas.
2. Its initial argument is always the statement being
examined.
a) statement 1
b) both statements 1 and 2
c) neither statement 1 nor 2
d) statement 2
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Question 10
How can the use of the Socratic method be described if placed in the
academic setting?
1. The teacher probes to intimidate students.
2. The Socratic method always has a clearly defined specific goal
highlighted before the start of the process.
a) neither statement 1 nor 2 c) statement 2
b) statement 1 d) both statements 1 and 2
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Intro to the philosophy of the human person ch 2-1 socratic method of philosophizing

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