Socratic Dialogue
Plan
What steps do you take in Socratic Dialogue?
Rules of play
What do you need to make agreements about?
Facilitator
What are the facilitator's tasks?
Plan
Handout Plan for Socratic Dialogue (pdf-file)
Looking for an answer to the fundamental question can take place in different ways, for example:
On the basis of an experience of one of the participants. This experience may not be imaginary and must be easy to explain.
On the basis of definitions. Each participant makes their own definition or answer. The participants then look together for differences among them.
Rules of play
To avoid a Socratic Dialogue turning into a discussion, the conversation is subject to certain rules. These rules are not meant to limit or direct the participants, but to ensure that the conversation runs along the right lines. There are two sorts of rules: constitutive and regulative. The constitutive rules are essential, without these rules there will be no Socratic Dialogue. The regulative rules are to make the conversation run more smoothly. They don't need to be announced in advance, but can be explained when it seems necessary. These rules are derived from Elshout, H. van (2003) Het socratische en de regels: wanneer is een gesprek socratisch en wanneer niet? In J. Delnoij & W. Van Dalen (Red.), 'Het Socratisch Gesprek'. Budel: Damon.
The constitutive rules
Contribute actively to the conversation. The participants must be prepared to take an active part in the conversation. They must also be willing to keep to the rules set by the group-leader.
Pose a fundamental question which is important to everyone. The question must be about conditions or principles. Try to avoid yes/no questions by looking for underlying questions in such a case. Examples of 'good' questions are: What is learning? To what extent should schools transmit values and norms? Example of a yes/no question: can you trust a student? An underlying question could be: what is trust?
Do not call on a higher authority. To promote independent thinking, participants may only make use of their own experience. They may not refer to research or books as knowledge. Their own experience may not be a hypothetical example. This experience may not be imaginary and must be able to be easily explained.
Listen to each other. To avoid getting into discussion and to the keep the conversation comprehensible for everyone, this rule is very important. The group leader can for example ask participants to repeat what has been said or to compare two different points-of-view.
Strive for consensus. The participants don't need to agree. If they have different points-of-view, look for the reasons for that difference. The aim of the Socratic Dialogue is not to convince others.
The regulative rules
Avoid starting a question or statement with 'Yes but …'. Such formulations quickly turn a Socratic Dialogue into a discussion.
Do not hold a monologue. The Socratic Dialogue must remain a conversation. If one of the participants speaks for too long or too often, the group-leader can slow down the conversation by asking another person to repeat what has been said.
Don't think alone but with others. Participants should try and think along with the person speaking. Can they follow what he or she is saying? Can they repeat it? Do they fully understand what the person means?
Avoid comments which have nothing to do with the question, or which are about a different example than the one chosen. If the reflection group is working from a case (for example an experience of one of the participants), then that example is the starting-point. The participants may not refer to other examples.
Write as little as possible. This rule prevents the participants being busier with writing than listening. Whether this rule needs to be a law depends on the participants.
The facilitator
As chairperson of a Socratic Dialogue you need to make the following preparations.
Practise with Socratic Dialogues.
Choose a suitable moment in the programme.
During the reflection session you are responsible, as chairperson for
Explaining the rules.
Leading the conversation.
Not joining in the conversation. You do not state your own opinion, even if asked.