thinking-socraticlisted

# Socratic Questioning ## Overview The Socratic Method, developed by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, uses systematic questioning to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. Rather than providing answers, it draws out knowledge by challenging assumptions and exploring implications. **Core Principle:** Questions are more powerful than answers. The right question reveals what we don't know we don't know. ## When to Use - Requirements gathering (understanding what stakeholders really need) - Debugging (tracing assumptions to find root causes) - Code review (understanding design decisions) - Coaching and mentoring (helping others reach insights) - Self-reflection (examining your own beliefs) - Evaluating proposals or designs - When someone says "obvious" or "everyone knows" Decision flow: ``` Understanding seems shallow? → yes → APPLY SOCRATIC QUESTIONING Assumptions unexamined? → yes → APPLY SOCRATIC QUESTIONING Root cause unclear? → yes → APPLY SOCRATIC QUESTIONING ``` ## The Six Types of Socratic Questions ### 1. Clarification Questions **Purpose:** Ensure clear understanding of the claim or concept | Question | Use When | |----------|----------| | "What do you mean by X?" | Term is ambiguous | | "Can you give me an example?" | Concept is abstract | | "How does this relate to Y?" | Connection unclear | | "Can you rephrase that?" | Statement is confusing | | "What is the main point?" | Discussion is scattered | **Example:** > "The system need