The Socratic Way Of Questioning: How To Use Socrates' Method To Discover The Truth And Argue Wisely

by Michael Britton

This ONE skill is the basis of your ability to think critically. Do you know what it is? It’s the ability to ask the RIGHT question.What is life if not filled with questions?

There was a time you took for granted the trustworthiness of the answers you got from the government, the media, religion, subject experts, and friends and family.

But, with the massive erosion of public trust in every major institution, like most people, you’ve been forced to rely on your own problem-solving and critical thinking faculties.

What if you were never taught to do this?

It’s likely that you’re overwhelmed by the information you are bombarded with on a daily basis. It doesn’t help that much of this information is suspect.

Fake news has reached such epidemic proportions that, according to Statistica, only 26 percent of Americans think they could recognize a fake news story. Worse, as much as 90 percent of Americans pass on fake news unintentionally.

That means people aren’t even examining or questioning the “facts” of the information they pass on.

This doesn’t have to be you. The Socratic questioning method will help you develop the critical thinking skills to resolve the tough life questions you may have.

Socrates was considered to be one of the wisest men of his time, and he’s reputed to have said the unexamined life isn’t a life worth living.

What he meant is if you never looked at the assumptions underlying the information or rules that governed your life, what was the point of living?

Socrates himself once questioned whether he was the wisest man in all Greece, even though it was a commonly held opinion. He didn’t just accept it.

We understand and agree with Socrates’ perspective. We all want to get to the truth of all matters, be better at examining and assessing facts, and build stronger arguments.

This is exactly what Socrates was teaching through his method, at the heart of which lies the art and science of coming up with the right questions. And this is what the book is all about.

The Socratic Method Of How To Use Socrates’ Method To Discover The Truth And Argue Wisely book will teach

The 10 deadly sins of logic – how many are you guilty of?9 key skills that separate the average thinker from the exceptional critical thinker and the precise tools to sharpen them How to implement the hidden potential of the Socratic method in your life - even if you're not a lawyer or a scientistThe top 8 traits that set Socrates apart from the rest (and how you can cultivate them for yourself)Why people fail to ask questions they should and how you can avoid falling into this trapHow to make even the most resistant people answer your questions, turning their hesitations into open curiosityA powerful formula for generating questions that tap into the deepest insights of those you're questioning, revealing truths that may have otherwise been left undiscoveredWhy you don’t really “know” anything until you put it through these tests (do this or else you'll never achieve true mastery of your subject)....and much, much more

The 21st century will see information become more valuable than even oil or gold.

Genres: Philosophy, Self Help, Personal Development, Nonfiction, Logic

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2021

Reviews

[Are · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to read this book. It was very insightful in being a guide on how to think more objectively. It fell short in that more case studies on the applications of thinking. The examples/case studies that were provided were not printed in the book but was a link on the Kindle version which were not a very practical way of viewing on Kindle.

[Michaell Cavllaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANOTHER WELL WRITTEN BOOK BY THINKNETIC

Although, this book is a short read, it goes into great detail. I learned a lot about the Socratic method of questioning by reading this book.

[Richard Biddle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointing. Read like a silly book by someone like Paul McKenna. Socretes is probably turning in his grave.

[Felipe · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Socratic Way of Questioning" represents a profound misunderstanding of its subject. The book claims to teach Socratic questioning but instead delivers a confused mixture of critical thinking clichés, self-help platitudes, and fundamental conceptual errors.

The problems begin with the book's failure to understand what makes Socratic questioning distinctive. The authors repeatedly conflate the Socratic method with generic critical thinking, treating them as essentially the same thing. This is like claiming that French cuisine is just "cooking with food"—technically true but missing everything that gives it unique character and value.

The book's treatment of Socrates himself is superficial and occasionally inaccurate. When discussing Socrates' life and methods, the authors rely on vague generalizations rather than engagement with actual Socratic dialogues. For example, they claim: "Socrates would apparently spend at least half of each dialogue defining the terms being discussed and questioned." This statement misrepresents both the structure and purpose of Socratic dialogues, where definition is not merely about establishing terms but about revealing the limitations of our understanding. A reader familiar with even a single dialogue like the Euthyphro would recognize this mischaracterization.

The book's structural problems mirror its conceptual confusion. Chapters jump between topics without clear progression or logical connection. Concepts are introduced, abandoned, then reintroduced in different contexts without coherent development. Reading it feels like having a conversation with someone who keeps changing the subject without realizing it.

Even when the book offers potentially useful information—such as its discussion of logical fallacies or questioning techniques—these elements are disconnected from authentically Socratic practices. The authors borrow frameworks like Bloom's Taxonomy and the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework without establishing their relationship to Socratic methodology, creating an intellectual hodgepodge rather than a coherent approach.

Perhaps most troubling is the book's presentation of generic critical thinking exercises as Socratic practice. Consider this advice on questioning: "Five all-purpose questions for better thinking: How can I see this with fresh eyes? What might I be assuming? Am I rushing to judgment? What am I missing? What matters most?" While these questions aren't bad, there's nothing distinctively Socratic about them. They could appear in any basic critical thinking guide. The Socratic method involves a specific approach to questioning aimed at revealing contradictions in thought—not just asking general reflective questions.

The book occasionally includes accurate information, particularly in sections on logical reasoning and cognitive biases. Some templates and frameworks might prove useful to readers unfamiliar with structured questioning approaches. But these isolated strengths cannot compensate for the fundamental failure to understand and present Socratic methodology accurately.

For readers seeking genuine understanding of Socratic questioning, this book is likely to create more confusion than clarity. Its misrepresentations of Socratic practice may lead readers to believe they're engaging in Socratic inquiry when they're doing something quite different—like someone convinced they're speaking French because they occasionally say "bonjour."

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

using socratic debate to uncover deeper truths

Michael Britton’s “The Socratic Way of Questioning: How to Use Socrates’ Method to Discover the Truth and Argue Wisely” is a concise guide (around 150 pages) that coaches its readers how to engage in more thoughtful, critical discussions by employing the Socratic method, and by understanding how questioning can often uncover far deeper truths beyond the conventional use as a tool for oration and debate. The book may prove useful to readers who may be aiming to improve their reasoning and argumentation skills, to think more deeply, or and debate more effectively.

[Frank Pray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer presents multiple charts to condense the elements of critical thinking he develops. He draws from 4 or 5 primary sources and cites those several times each throughout the book. The book includes exercises for applying the principles covered. The Socratic method is certainly covered but is only a launch point for some of the general features of critical thinking developed by current writers. This is not a philosophical work but a pragmatic examination of how critical thinking can be learned and applied.

[Da' Vantez Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quotes, insights and conceptual frameworks

I’ve highlighted more quotes and ideas than expected while reading this book. We all have our biases and hubris (especially intellectuals). This fact coupled with the Socratic Method of questioning emphasizes intellectual honesty and humility as a salient part of discourse and debate. I recommend this book as a supplement for Philosophy- Logic 101 or for a casual substitute for novice critical thinkers.

[Jimmy Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for an introductory and some deeper level critical thinking excersizes where the author cites other authors, professors & PHDs throughout the book in an easy to read format.

It teaches neat formats for asking the right questions to get a full view of the question/ problem at hand to find the best solve out of all viewpoints and possible perspectives.

[Jim Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely an introductory or beginners book for Socratic/stoic studies. It is not one I would recommended for that purpose either frankly. It is little more than a weirdly categorized collection of quotes with some subjective interpretations and references to those quotes.

[Tânia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and useful tips

[Rahul Chellappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book on critical thinking

The author provides great ideas that we may assume in our day to day life, the need to question and it's benefits are amazing

[zoagli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads more like a self-help book than a practical guide, let alone a philosophy book. The author seems to want to convince you of the Socratic Method by repeating the same arguments and promising enormous benefits, instead of using the method itself (which is very useful, let’s be clear about that) to make a bulletproof argument. Still, the critical skills of questioning and listening are invaluable in today’s hectic world.

[Marcin · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Die sokratische Methode des Hinterfragens" von Thinknetic setzt sich mit der Bedeutung kritischen Denkens auseinander und vermittelt die Grundlagen einer Methode, die bereits in der Antike zur Wahrheitsfindung genutzt wurde. Das Buch legt dar, warum es wichtig ist, eigene Überzeugungen regelmäßig zu hinterfragen, anstatt Informationen unkritisch zu übernehmen. Es zeigt auf, wie Menschen dazu neigen, sich selbst zu täuschen, und beschreibt, wie gezielte Fragen helfen können, Denkfehler und Widersprüche in Argumentationen aufzudecken.

Besonders betont wird, dass sich ein sokratischer Denker seiner eigenen Unwissenheit bewusst ist und Wissen nicht als selbstverständlich annimmt. Das Buch fordert dazu auf, sich gedanklich nicht mit oberflächlichen Antworten zufriedenzugeben, sondern durch logisches Prüfen und Hinterfragen zu einem fundierten Verständnis zu gelangen. Es weist auch darauf hin, dass diese Methode nicht nur für die eigene Reflexion wertvoll ist, sondern auch im Dialog mit anderen Menschen helfen kann, klarere und besser begründete Argumente zu entwickeln.

Positiv hervorzuheben ist, dass die Konzepte verständlich und praxisnah erklärt werden. Das Buch eignet sich daher gut als Einführung für Leser, die sich bisher wenig mit kritischem Denken oder der sokratischen Methode beschäftigt haben. Die Sprache ist zugänglich und die Prinzipien werden systematisch erläutert, sodass die Anwendbarkeit auf den Alltag im Vordergrund steht.

Ein Nachteil ist jedoch, dass das Buch die historischen Grundlagen der sokratischen Methode nur oberflächlich behandelt. Die Werke Platons, die als Hauptquelle für Sokrates' Denkweise gelten, werden kaum thematisiert. Es fehlen detaillierte Analysen seiner Dialoge, die verdeutlichen könnten, wie Sokrates in der Praxis argumentierte und seine Gesprächspartner durch geschicktes Fragen zur Einsicht führte. Dadurch bleibt die Darstellung der Methode eher theoretisch und hätte mit konkreten Beispielen aus der antiken Philosophie an Tiefe gewinnen können.

Insgesamt ist das Buch eine gute Einführung in die Bedeutung des kritischen Hinterfragens und vermittelt grundlegende Prinzipien der sokratischen Methode. Es eignet sich besonders für Leser, die sich mit den Grundlagen des logischen Denkens und der Kunst des Fragens vertraut machen möchten. Wer allerdings eine tiefergehende Auseinandersetzung mit den philosophischen Ursprüngen und konkreten Beispielen sucht, sollte ergänzend auf Platons Dialoge oder andere philosophische Werke zurückgreifen.

[Jarrion · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

Good read jjjj JJ bbb JJ jjjhhv vvvvbbb Babb huh bhbv hhbv bbbb bbbbn. Bb. Bb Bob. He hb bh

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gets a little repetitive and could have been half as long.