I’m Socrates. Here’s my story.

So you want Socratic Seminar?

I lived in Greece about the time the Roman Empire collapsed. This was the same time the Chinese invented the horse collar, Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, and Hawaiiola discovered Hawaii.

I’m still (over 1,500 years later!) one of the most famous philosophers of all time, even though I didn’t write down any of my ideas. After my *ehem* murder, my students did.

I started my career as a soldier. I fought in the Peloponnesian War...this is back when we were testing out the first democratic government.

I began a second career as a stonemason and settled down a little with my lady Xanthippe and the kids.

When my father, a great sculptor, passed away, he left me a fortune. I quit the stonemason business and focused full-time on my business, philosophical dialogue.CV

Phileo=love Sophia=wisdom

My mom was a midwife, and I saw myself as a sort of “midwife of the mind”—helping students give birth to their own ideas.

I always thought the

questions were more

important than the

answers. Looking at life

critically and asking the

right questions is key.

The government didn’t like my influence on young people; they were asking too many questions! So, they forced me to drink hemlock, a poison.

This is Aristocles, my best student. We called him “Plato” because of his broad shoulders.

Plato’s best student was Aristotle. The two of them are the most influential philosophers in Western Thought.

Since my time, business people and educators have used “Socratic Seminars” or discussions initiated by questions. Here are the rules:

ü  A teaching strategy to encourage students to engage in critical thinking, listening, communicating, and wonder critical thinking, listening, communicating, and wonder.

ü  A forum in which students students determine the flow of classroom discussion and

teachers serve as facilitators. ü  An atmosphere of intellectual engagement, cooperation, and conversation where

students learn the difference and between DIALOGUE and DEBATE. ü  The goal is not not to answer questions, but to generate more questions.

So that’s who I am and why we have Socratic Seminar. But what is it?

Remember: People learn best by asking questions. Socratic Seminar is a way to develop and learn from each other. Your teacher is only a moderator.

Difference between Debate and Dialogue Debate •  Defends thinking to

show that it is right. •  People search for

weaknesses. •  Rebuts contrary

positions and may belittle others.

•  Assumes only one right answer exists.

•  Demands a conclusion.

Dialogue •  Expects other ideas will

improve thinking. •  Searches for strengths. •  Respects others and

does not alienate. •  Assumes that

cooperation can lead to greater understanding.

•  Remains open-ended.

If it is your turn to lead seminar, you have certain responsibilities. The first is to develop an opening question. An opening question has no right answer, but should reflect a genuine curiosity on the part of the leader.

For example: Should human embryos be cloned in order to save lives?

I often found that an effective opening question would lead participants back to the text. This allowed responses to the opening question to generate new questions. The goal is to have the line of inquiry evolve on the spot. This isn’t always possible, so it is important to have other questions prepared.

The leader must play a dual role as both a leader and a participant. They need to lead

a thoughtful exploration of the text while engage the group’s exploration as well.

The leader also helps participants clarify their positions when arguments become confused.

They also involve students that haven’t participated yet.

Preparing for Socratic Seminar is imperative. Without proper preparation, the seminar will not succeed. The day before seminar, all participants are given a Socratic Seminar prep sheet. You must complete steps 1-4 as homework before you are admitted to class.

It is essential you read the text and prepare yourself with important questions and textual references. But what kind of questions should you ask during seminar? What constitutes an “important” question?

Participants are expected to share responsibility for the quality of the seminar. Participants must prepare in advance and listen actively. I require participants to share their ideas and questions in response to others. They also are expected to search for evidence in the text to support their ideas.

Everyone always wants to know how they will be assessed. Here you go -

Seminar Prep. Sheet = 30 pts Contribute to the conversation following these

guidelines: ü  Ask a question ü  Respond to a question ü  Cite evidence from the text.

All three requirements: 30 points Two requirements: 20 points 1 requirement: 10 points No requirements: 0 points