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Four Methods of Philosophizing

The document discusses the Socratic method of philosophizing. It explains that the Socratic method uses questioning dialogue to discover truths, rather than persuasion or debate. Participants work together to define concepts through a three step process: 1) providing an initial definition, 2) questioning that definition to identify flaws, 3) refining the definition based on the discussion. The goal is for participants to improve their understanding and arrive at precise definitions through repeated questioning and refinement. When applied in teaching, the teacher guides students to think for themselves rather than imparting knowledge directly.

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Raymond Dexter
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1K views

Four Methods of Philosophizing

The document discusses the Socratic method of philosophizing. It explains that the Socratic method uses questioning dialogue to discover truths, rather than persuasion or debate. Participants work together to define concepts through a three step process: 1) providing an initial definition, 2) questioning that definition to identify flaws, 3) refining the definition based on the discussion. The goal is for participants to improve their understanding and arrive at precise definitions through repeated questioning and refinement. When applied in teaching, the teacher guides students to think for themselves rather than imparting knowledge directly.

Uploaded by

Raymond Dexter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Four methods of philosophizing in Chapter 2 of this The didactic dialogue of Socrates intends not to

book, namely, 1) Socratic Method, 2) convey new truth but only as a guide in arriving at
Phenomenological Method, 3) Hermeneutical the truth. Socrates calls this method Maieutic or
Method, and 4) Analytic Method. In this post, I will “intellectual midwifery.”
only focus on the Socratic Method.
When intellectual midwifery is at work in a dialogue,
It must be noted that my main intention here is to the participants do not force-fit their own beliefs on
explain further or highlight those important concepts others. Instead, as already mentioned, they work
in the topic methods of philosophizing that may together in order to arrive at the truth. Applied in a
provide the students and senior high school teachers classroom setting, the teacher does not seek to
in the Philippines who do not have a strong inculcate the students with knowledge or truths. On
background and orientation in philosophy with the contrary, the teacher simply acts as a guide in
additional information that would help them further arriving at certain truths. Thus, in this method, the
understand the different approaches to doing students are no longer viewed as passive recipients
philosophy. It must also be noted that because of of knowledge, but as an active agent in the
word count requirement set by the publisher of the acquisition of knowledge. Here, the students think for
book, the authors have to present their chapter in a themselves and the Socratic teacher only facilitates
succinct manner. This review will also guide the the discussion.
students in reading the chapter.
It is worth noting, however, that the participants in
the dialogue must first admit their ignorance. This is
Socratic Method because, for Socrates, knowledge begins the
moment one admits her ignorance, that is, when one
The Socratic Method is a didactic dialogue of realizes that she does not know―thus the famous
questioning that is expressed in the critical Socratic dictum “Know thyself.” For sure, it is when
examination and cross-examination of the positions we admit that we do not know, that there is so much
of every participant in the dialogue. However, it is to know (that the more we know, the more that we do
important to note that this method is simply a way to not know) that we begin to seek the truth and acquire
discover the truth. Hence, the Socratic Method is wisdom.
neither a rhetoric (or the art of persuasion) nor a
debate in which participants in a dialogue (discourse
or discussion) prove their position. For this reason,
those who are involved in a dialogue do not attempt
to persuade the other or debate with each other, but
work together in order to discover the truth.
More importantly, the Socratic Method is a way of Thus, we may say: “A table is a four-legged
thinking that involves three important steps in furniture, made up of wood, has a flat surface,
arriving at the truth. In the first step, we give an rectangular in shape, and is used primarily for
initial definition of a thing or a concept. For example, dining or putting things on it.” As we can see, this
we say: “A table is a four-legged furniture.” In the is the essence of a table. This is what makes a table
second step, we look for those characteristics of the “a table,” so that even if one sits on a table, the table
table that are not captured in the initial definition. For remains a table; it does not become a chair because
example, we may ask the question: “Is the table a the main purpose of the table is for dining or for
cow?” We raise this question because if our initial putting things on it, and not for sitting.
definition of the concept of a table is based solely on
the idea of “four legs,” then it follows that anything Let us consider another example.
that has four legs can be called a table. But is a cow
really a table simply because it has four legs? Step 1: Freedom is the ability of the human person
Obviously not. This question would lead us to the to do whatever she wants to do.
third step, where we give additional or new
definition of a table. Thus, we may say: “A table is a Step 2: Am I really free to kill my enemy simply
four-legged furniture, made up of wood and has a flat because I hate him?
surface.” Let me schematically show the three steps
in Socratic Method: Step 3: No. We cannot just kill anybody we want to
kill. There are rules to follow in a civilized society.
Step 1: A table is a four-legged furniture.
Step 2: Is the table a cow? Now, if we repeat this process, then eventually we
Step 3: A table is a four-legged furniture, made up of can come up with a true definition of freedom.
wood and has a flat surface. Indeed, with the Socratic Method, we are able to
improve our understanding of something and
Now, if we repeat these steps, then we eventually eventually arrived at the truth. For sure, with the
arrived at the truth, that is, we eventually came up Socratic Method, an individual is able to move from
with a precise definition of a table, understood as the the state of “not knowing” to that of “knowing.” Lastly,
essence of a table―indeed, that which makes a this process is what we call the Socratic Dialectic.
table “a table” or that which makes a table
completely different from any other things, such as a
cow or a chair.

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