How To Win Any Argument Using The Socratic Method
- Allow them to take a position and then don’t defend against it, but instead ask questions:
- That’s interesting…how do you know that’s true? What specific evidence convinced you?
- Are they just repeating something they heard or did something specific convince them?
- What would have to be true for that statement to be false?
- What assumptions are you making? What would have to be true for this assumption to work?
- What unstated beliefs is this argument based upon?
- What would someone from a completely different background assume about this?
- What evidence would change your mind?
- If they say nothing, then they are stating that they are not thinking rationally, but just defending an ideology.
- So no evidence could ever change your mind? How is that different than faith?
- Have you looked for that evidence?
- What would someone who disagrees with you say?
- True understanding requires the ability to see from multiple different perspectives
- What would the strongest critic of your position say?
- How would someone who completely disagrees with you explain their reasoning?
- What would the smartest person that disagrees with you say?
- What are the logical implications / consequences of your position? What would happen if everyone applied that standard?
- Ask what would happen if everyone adopted their position? Or if their logic was applied to other situations?
- If everyone thought this way, what would happen?
- Where does this logic lead if we follow it all the way through?
- What other situations would this principle apply to?
- That’s interesting…how do you know that’s true? What specific evidence convinced you?
Extra Tips
-
- Don’t let them be vague. Ask “What do you mean by that?”
- Ask for specific examples: “Can you give me an example of that?”
- “How does this connect to what you said about X earlier?”
Defend Against The Socratic Method
- If you see someone using this method, turn it around on them: “What do you believe about this?”
- Are you asking these questions to understand my position or to attack it?
- Set boundaries: “I’m happy to examine my beliefs, but I’d like to understand your position too.”
When Not To Use The Socratic Method
- In emotional situations.
- With family and friends.
- With your boss or professor that may feel you are attacking them.