The Socratic Method: What It is and How to Use It in the Classroom

Published on May 22, 2003, Award-Winning Teachers on Teaching guest lecturer Professor Rob Reich, Political Science, speaks on the Socratic Method, what it is and how to use it in the classroom.

[@FortheLuIz]

Students: What is The Socratic Method? Professor: lectures

[@paulharris3000]

Over many years, I have spent a good deal of time with the Plato dialogues and Socratic method. I personally believe that though greater clarity of conception and more specificity come out of the Socratic method than out of mere belief and presumption, no attention is given to variety of epistemological conception in these writings. For instance, I have never seen in Plato's works - any mention of the distinction between connotation and denotation in arriving at an understanding of an idea. I think Kant made a significant breakthrough in epistemology by adducing in his Logical Table of Judgements, under the category of Modality, that we actually live our lives on three levels of "truth:" Problematic - (one's own opinion), Assertoric ( consensus, or agreement with others), and Apodeictic ( that which is incontrovertible by induction alone - e.g., If I, you, he, or she - touches the third rail, the result will be the same, regardless of opinion, belief, or debate.) It is apparent to me that in human affairs - truth IS agreement...

[@jamiekavanagh1634]

I disagree.

[@Mrguy-ds9lr]

@@jamiekavanagh1634 i agree

[@aronianspigonian8589]

This guy is a baller. He really just flexed on his past professors like that. Absolutely inspirational dunk on your prof. Mah man. Mah man.

[@georgemarsh9639]

Chinese had taught history by the 'Socratic' or dialectic method, on interpretation of facts but not all on moral issues since the Han Dynasty. Confucius taught moral philosophy by the dialectic method also.

[@Lacanparis]

Too bad the video ended so abruptly. Professor Rob Reich's lecture was really interesting.

[@lrfolkins6692]

Is the rest of this video available?

[@lissadawes4243]

Begins at 4:26

[@reycfd7753]

Great! Thanks a lot for this enlightening lecture. Many professors of law presuppose they are into Socratic method of teaching, but sadly, they are not, based on d real Socratic Dialogues written by Plato.

[@outerspacedev]

Nice lecture.

[@closetcleaner]

Where's the remaining part of this lecture?

[@JohnnyFive626]

The remote at 6:25 looks HUGE! I think its the shadow of his right hand, but it looks like the size of a book! ;)

[@thomasanstett1321]

The Socratic method is best employed as a close reading strategy.

[@ericcortes1845]

Prof. Reich's comment on the usefulness of silence was perfect. A legendary professor of Constitutional Law and Property Law at Tulane employed the Socratic method with great success. One day, he asked a student (standing) a difficult question that moved the student to petrification. After about 30 uncomfortable seconds, Mr. Rabalais quipped, "Well, we can see Mr. Jones is not one to jump to conclusions."

[@cachemydrift]

I’ll be going to Tulane Law next Fall. Do you remember the professor’s name?

[@ericcortes1845]

@@cachemydrift Yes. Ray Rabelais. Brilliant is too weak a word. He learned more in the four years he preceded me to law school than I learned in the 45 years that I've been practicing. If he's still teaching, don't miss out.

[@regcheeseman7556]

Pretty good but where's the rest of it?

[@donjindra]

I think this guy gets Plato all wrong. He's arguing that Plato's Socrates was interested in uncovering subjective viewpoints. But that was not the case. Plato's Socrates was interested in the essence of things. Essence is inherently objective.

[@aronianspigonian8589]

He specifically gives the opposite of what you said as the definition of the socratic method though. I think he did a great job sticking to Plato! He even noted the importance of remembering the name of which you address or pull information from during the use of the socratic method. I feel like this along with a few other minor additions in this lecture naturally leads to the idea that this guy understands his Plato really well and does a good job of implementing it into a modern, effective way of teaching yo. He’s ballin

[@yvettelega7058]

@@aronianspigonian8589 ghggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghoohy

[@efkimo7]

Is there a part 2 to this?

[@mary0612]

See the PDF on this lecture: web.stanford.edu/dept/CTL/Newsletter/socratic_method.pdf

[@jasonh8212]

where is part 2 to this?

[@jakewinchester1740]

24:30 onwards...

[@stickitupyourasteric]

you will never know the answer ... kingsfield iiii To Sir with Love... Sidney's teaching method was both sage on the stage and Socraic

[@TWOCOWS1]

while this guy is spilling his heart and mind, the "students" are foraging like cows. how does one teaches two-legged cows?

[@guskirkpatrick2433]

facts

[@aguilayserpiente]

Q: What is the Socratic method? A: Just asking questions is a non-method without any pedagogical foundation.

[@fredericklacuesta5511]

"We use the Socratic Method here" 9:57

[@thetruthaboutscienceandgod6921]

Please share my two brief videos with other people. Thank you!

[@xXMiniMegaXx]

hard to use the socratic method in schools when you have a set curriculum to teach and you can’t question the fundamental points that are set out to be taught in the curriculum

[@xXMiniMegaXx]

but i haven’t watched the video yet so

[@Herk0908]

I find it interesting that this speaker never asked a question during his entire presentation. Isn't that ironic?

[@TomatoFettuccini]

He did comment on the irony of it at 4:37, right at the beginning of his lecture.

[@briantumor9390]

Hmmm, he must have gotten awards for being 'less boring', because he is still quite so. I imagine he would be bored himself if he didn't have a printed sheet in front of him. If he truly understood the Socratic Method and the focus of his speech, his understanding and conviction would have been his guide. Learning and the Socratic Method are examples of dynamic thinking, and neither hackneyed scenes from an old movie nor droll, carefully structured sentences give life or respect to these notions. Also, a boring lecture is not worthy of the excitement of learning.

[@paulharris3000]

He's a young professor yet, and has not yet shed the reverberations of didactic methods...

[@MRayner59]

Pompous jackass.

[@guskirkpatrick2433]

ayy man shit aint cool, what you tryna say

[@aronianspigonian8589]

@@MRayner59 That was three years ago... well... 6 now. Lol

[@alice80085]

The sad part is that I'm in sixth grade and I needed to look this up for school

[@threecats407]

+DarkRose The good part is that you did!

[@TomatoFettuccini]

No, that's the good part. Learning is good, and learning how to teach yourself is even better. If you're not learning, then you might as well be dead. There's more than enough to learn about in your lifetime.

[@jasoncollins4088]

Now that you are presumably in 9th grade how do you see this differently?

[@psibarpsi]

That's not sad at all, that's one of the happiest things to happen to you.

[@papajay111]

Its called discourse through dialog or dialectic!!

[@shinjaokinawa5122]

Make sure you don't get to a point someone might learn something.

[@aronianspigonian8589]

No way! My man said avoid obsequious deference?! You best not bow down to the vice and allure of seeming chill and dope to your homies! Ain’t no sugar coating in HIS house noooo sir! #ballerrrrr

[@mevilight]

everyone knows that the Socratic method does not work

[@zzidaric]

Really? I did not know that. I thought it is a good tool.

[@TobermoryCat]

You claim " everyone" knows something. Curious proposition.

[@VidzMisc]

i found it to be bombastic rhetoric at best.

[@razan8426]

why is he reading? that's unprofessional

[@haveabeer123]

Horrible methodology for students with social anxiety

[@trishnagolap2545]

This guy is amateur. Not seasoned speaker.

[@ArabKatib]

In Islam, we don’t have this shitty "Socratic Method", this "method" doesn’t make you learn! Religious teachers in Saudi Arabia schools encourage giving DIRECT answers to students, (I am not Saudi), this help you learn more! It is the way used in Japan. People getting lots of answers and growing in mind is better than running after simple pre-answered questions.. I did a couple searches on KZbin and Google asking: Why university professors never give direct answers?, I studied once under some American teachers, and they were AWFUL! Many of us actually never learned ANYTHING! They never answer your questions. They just give you more questions! Today, I am filthy rich, and what I do has NOTHING to do with what I "learned" at universities! People in the West should DITCH the so called and filthy "Socratic Method", and just answer their students directly when they ask a question, like good old age teachers.. it always works. Answer them quickly so that they can MOVE ON to the next knowledge, don't make them ponder over pre-solved problems and pre-answered questions. Cut the chase and TEACH FAST! However, with that being said, I cannot help but think that there is some sort of conspiracy at work here, were the educational system doesn’t really want people to learn so they they won't compete in the future for their teacher's jobs or higher leadership positions, that can actually somtimes affect and change society.. My thoughts. Greetings from Arabia, Dubai, UAE.

[@ArabKatib]

***** Shoo!

[@vitaminrumrum]

Arab Katib Salam. I'm Muslim too. The Socratic Method isn't used to achieve correct answers. It's meant to slice the statement open, expose any weaknesses, flesh out possibilities, and help a student learn to LEARN. If you've met any good lawyers you would have realized how broad minded, meticulous, and thorough they are. Very often they use the Socratic Method internally to figure out what they need to say or do. Islamic jurisprudence is a different story as it based SCRIPTURE and sunnah, not purely human intellect. That being said, Islamic scholars were traditionally taught logic and the fact that there are four major schools of thought, all approaching jurisprudence differently, doesn't help your argument. Perhaps you didn't use anything you learned in your undergraduate career. Many, many people have that experience but lawyers use what they learn ALL THE TIME. Also, brother, please try to stay away from bragging about wealth :) Salam!

[@Applest2oApples]

Arab Katib Yes, you are filthy rich b/c of direct answers. Couldn't be because you are from Saudi Arabia, the oil capital of the world and probably part of a rich family.

[@ArabKatib]

vitaminrumrum Greetings to you my fellow Muslim brother. May the peace and God's mercy be upon you. May the angels recite the best prayers of Moses, Jesus and Mohammad for you. See.. two things.. (Or three). 1- I was not bragging about my wealth. If I sounded like so, I apologize. 2- I work in the media field, in Comics and Animation, Children's entertainment, and I am a writer, novelist, screen writer, among many other things.. THROUGHOUT MY career?!?!! I *NEVER!!* Never!! Had a use for this so called "Socratic Method"!!! Actually, asking more questions to answer questions proved to create much more problems for people! If it is good for lawyers? Good for them! But why use it in other fields? 3- It really REALLY *REALLY* pisses me off when I get another question instead of an answer! I have a very short temper by the way, and the Socratic Method is not healthy for me.. But what angered me was, after graduation, many people from my own years at the university, always complained about it! It pissed them off! No one really learned anything from those smart ass teachers! We felt like they didn’t want to teach us ANYTHING! What a GARBAGE academic learning if this is what happens! Students then should not invest in college education if teachers won't teach them anything! Many of us ended up going abroad and studying Animation, Sequential Arts and other media crap in the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, etc, for higher education in those fields. Teachers taught us programs and arts DIRECTLY with no smart assyness! What is this pen? It is permanent ink! What is this command? It exports the file as MP3! What does this button do? It makes the world EXPLODE!! And we were good! I believe in giving a DIRECT answer to a question, and give other suggestions WHEN STUDENTS ASK FOR IT! It is ALL about anticipation! If the person anticipate an answer? Give him an answer! If he anticipate some smart assyness? Give him smart assyness! Otherwise don't hug your silk robe and open some of youu ancient precious scrolls while rubbing your beard saying: "What if!!". I DON'T NEED your "what FUCKEN if?" Aristotle! If I anticipate an answer? And the teachers doesn’t address it properly and ends up giving me another? I take this as an INSULT! I REALLY DO! Fuck philosophy and fuck the socratic fucken method. The reason I said it is NON-ISLAMIC because the prophet, peace be upon him, and all the messengers of God before him, gave direct answers to their companions and the believers! Even God never speaks in riddles, and is always sharp and clear with his commands! The Christians fell in DEEP SHIT because they altered their book, making the God of Jesus speak in riddles, like what is Judea? What is the rapture? What he meant with what? Who is who? Lot's of speculation! In Islam, as you know it, everything is clear! No riddles, no going around in circles, no suspicious pondering, no doubtful attempt of trying to help achieve results, no cynical questions, no skeptic misleading, no cynicism, no pessimism, NO INSULTS! That heathen Socrates can take the Socratic Method and shove it up his ASS! Sorry. I understood what you said, and I am happy for lawyers, but this crap is not not for me.

[@ArabKatib]

***** Go fuck yourself bitch. You are a pathetic surface dweller who gets drunk in your local pub all the time, stay that way.