# Socratic questions #permanentnote ## source: - [[book - The Trusted Advisor]] - [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_questioning) - https://fs.blog/2018/04/first-principles/ search for Socratic Questioning ## keywords: - [[topic - leading and managing]] - [[topic - mentoring, advising and coaching]] - [[how to be a better leader]] - [[how to be a better advisor]] - [[how to be a better negotiator]] - [[how to do one to one]] ## relevant notes - Socratic questions are a good way to use when [[zt - diplomacy is needed to work with the powerful]] - notes - Socratic questions are open-ended and help the __student__ find answers on their own. - Socratic questions should be driven by curiosity - Socratic questions can be used for 1 to 1 and interviews - Google was doing this in their interview - To use Socratic questions the __teacher__ needs to be with an ignorant mindset. ## Example 1 - Getting students to clarify their thinking and explore the origin of their thinking __e.g__., 'Why do you say that?', 'Could you explain further?' - Challenging students about [assumptions](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/assumption)__e.g__., 'Is this always the case?', 'Why do you think that this assumption holds here?' - Providing [evidence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence) as a basis for [arguments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument)__e.g__., 'Why do you say that?', 'Is there reason to doubt this evidence?' - Discovering alternative viewpoints and perspectives and conflicts between [contentions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_contention)__e.g__., 'What is the counter-argument?', 'Can/did anyone see this another way?' - Exploring [implications](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/implication) and [consequences](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/consequence)__e.g__., 'But if...happened, what else would result?', 'How does...affect...?' - Questioning the question __e.g__., 'Why do you think that I asked that question?', 'Why was that question important?', 'Which of your questions turned out to be the most useful?' ## Example 2 1. Clarifying your thinking and explaining the origins of your ideas (Why do I think this? What exactly do I think?) 2. Challenging assumptions (How do I know this is true? What if I thought the opposite?) 3. Looking for evidence (How can I back this up? What are the sources?) 4. Considering alternative perspectives (What might others think? How do I know I am correct?) 5. Examining consequences and implications (What if I am wrong? What are the consequences if I am?) 6. Questioning the original questions (Why did I think that? Was I correct? What conclusions can I draw from the reasoning process?)