I started college last week, and I'm taking a few philosophical based classes. Hence, I've been reading a lot of Plato. Most of the stuff I've been learning through reading him and having class discussions on his work I can relate to my spiritual life. One of the things that hit me really hard was the idea of the Socratic question.
In Plato's work, Socrates is usually the main character. I've read a few "dialogues" between Socrates and some other random person. The person always brings Socrates something and basically says that they know something about a particular subject. Socrates asks them questions, and then challenges all of their answers. This is called the Socratic question. It's asked, not to discourage the person, but to encourage them to find the deeper meaning behind their original answer. He is, in a way, a midwife; birthing truth out of the people he is conversing with.
This happens all the time in my life, specifically with Robyn. She is definitely a master of this. A lot of times I can get really frustrated because I would rather leave my answer as superficial, without delving into the layers behind it. I tend to prefer masks and regurgitated information rather than transparency and depth. So when my answers are challenged, I want to freak out, shut down, and just make it stop somehow. But the Socratic question is a tool used for growth, learning, and expanding oneself. Socrates (and Robyn) was always just pointing to the truth. Never forcing it on anyone, just pointing it out and letting the person make the decision for themselves. He would challenge someone, uncover something, but not always have the answers for what they should do from there. He was simply a guide to a deeper truth. I've always innately known that what Robyn does is a good thing, but I think that it was reinforcing to see it as a philosophical technique as well.
About Me
- Sarah
- 20 years young, majoring in International Studies & Women's Studies at the University of South Florida. I'm in love with a mountaintop village called Panimaquin, Guatemala. I believe in an organic, accessible God, and I'm learning as I go.
7 comments:
Hmmm... this is very interesting. I find this socratic question to be a great tool for us to grow and expand our ways of thinking and even help us to learn how we can express ourselves to others better. Why is it such a frustrating question to be asked though? I find that when asked this type of question I get really frustrated and try to shut down my interaction with whomever asked it, and that's not good. A small instinct tries to lead me into the right direction... through the irritation and into a deeper meaning and sometimes it's a better suited expression of myself that I learn.
This kind of dialoguing is so critical not only to our relationships with others, but to ourselves. It's really important to move away from the quick and instantaneous "gut" responses and be able to think out the processes of our minds. When we do that, we can become more in control of our thoughts. When we do that, we can become more in control of our emotions. When we do that, we can give all that control up to God, and understand how He is working through us and through other people for our sake.
^^^ What they said. :)
You are on the right track. Continue on, young warrior. Don't look back, look within.
Love you.
This is so appropriate for this time! I know that many of us are experiencing new things at this point in life, which includes meeting new people. Sometimes it's so much easier to answer with a cliche, but that doesn't help us or the person we're conversing with. Not all people will stand there and ask those tough questions. I'd like to see myself skipping the superficial (as much as I can) and being real with every person.
Good topic, good post :)
Bryon- I do the same thing, and it's definitely no good. I think it's so frustrating because it reveals so much of ourselves that usually we weren't even aware of. Or, we didn't want to be aware of it.
Drew- Thank you. :)
Robyn- I love you too. Thank you for challenging me beyond my reaches, even when I kick and fight against you.
Alexis- I find it so easy to just throw out the superficial answers when the person I'm talking with doesn't require them. Almost as a "break" from all the "really hard stuff" I've been doing. Phooey. I sound like a big baby! But I agree in wanting to see what things would look like if I were always deep and transparent. Or even 50% of the time. It'd be an improvement.
((( Sarah )))
Thanks for visiting me at Selah and for signing up to follow the posts there. It's wonderful to meet you here at your place!
This ... "Socrates asks them questions, and then challenges all of their answers. This is called the Socratic Question. It's asked not, to discourage a person, but to encourage them to find the deeper meaning behind their original answer. He is, in a way, a midwife; birthing truth out of the people he is conversing with."
... and particularly this ... "He is, in a way, a midwife; birthing truth out of the people he is conversing with."
speaks to my heart.
i have had godly, awesome robyn's in my life and they were used mightily by Abba as I was growing in my relationship with Him.
you are blessed to have this friendship that challenges you to go to the depths.
that's love.
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