Socratic questioning is to challenge the accuracy and completeness of thinking in a way that acts to move people towards their ultimate goal. It involves asking a series of questions to engage others in thoughtful discussion. The document outlines six types of Socratic questions: questions of clarification, questions that probe reasons and evidence, questions of viewpoints and perspectives, questions that probe implications and consequences, and questions about the questions. Questioning your thoughts is assessing yourself in a healthy way.

1. Stress Diary Journal Guides Guide 15: Socratic Questioning
Guide 15:
Socratic Questioning
Socratic Question
Stress Diary Journal Types
Your Guide > Questions of
Clarification
What is S ocratic Questioning?
Socrates is credited with a thinking in a way that acts to Questions of Clarification: > Questions that
method of engaging people in move people towards their probe reasons
dialogue which requires deep ultimate goal.  Can you explain that….? and evidence
thought. Applied to stress, and [e.g., I am not going to know
This Socratic Method is particularly during your the answers…]
basically asking a series of analysis of a stressful event, in  What do you mean by ….?
questions on a central issue or your Stress Diary Journal, or  Can you give me an example
topic to engage others in when confronted in your initial
> Questions of
of …?
thoughtful discussion. thoughts when facing a  How does that help…? viewpoints and
Socrates was one of the stressful situation, these  What is the main point? perspectives
greatest educators who taught questions may come in handy –  Would this be an example
by asking questions and thus to question yourself and your of…?
drawing out answers from his thoughts, reactions and  How does….relate to …..?
pupils. Plato, one of his response – as a form of Self-  Could you explain that > Questions that
students wrote up much what Dialogue]. further?
we know of him.  Could you put that another
probe implications
Note not all questions may way? and
Here are the six types of ques- apply to the situation and you  Could you rephrase that consequences
tions that Socrates asked his can be selective of the ones please?
pupils. Probably often to their below, but it is very good  Is your basic point….or….?
initial annoyance but more practice to question your  Why do you say that?
often to their ultimate delight. assumptions, to put it into  What do you think is the > Questions about
He was a man of remarkable perspective and restructure main issue here?
integrity and his overall your cognitions.  Let me see if I understand
questions
purpose, is to challenge you; do you mean….or…?
accuracy and completeness of
Questions that probe reasons and evidence?
 What would be an example  What difference does that this? “Socratic ques-
of…? make?  Why is it better than….? tioning is to
 Are these reasons  What would change your  What are the strengths and challenge the
adequate? mind? weaknesses of …? accuracy and
 How do you know?  But is there good evidence  What would ‘john’ say about completeness of
 Why did you say that? to believe that? this? thinking in a way
 Why do you think that is  Is there reason to doubt  How can you look another
that acts to move
true? that evidence? way at this?
 What led you to that belief?  What would you say to  What might change your
people towards
 Do you have any evidence someone who said…? mind about…? their ultimate goal”
for that?  By what reasoning did you
 How does that apply to this come to that conclusion?
case?  Who really benefits from

2. Page 2
Questions of Viewpoints or perspectives
 You seem to be approaching this issue from …perspective.
 Why have you chosen this, rather than that perspective?
 How would other group/types of people respond? Why? What would influence them?
 Can/did anyone see this another way?
 What is a counter argument for …?
 Another way of looking at this is….Does this seem reasonable?
 Can you put it another way?
 What if someone were to suggest that…?
 What is the difference between those view/ideas and …?
 Can you explain why it is necessary or beneficial, and who benefits?
 What would someone who disagrees say?
 What is an alternative?
Questions that probe implications and consequences
“  What are you implying by that?
 When you say…, are you implying…?
Questioning  But if that happened, what else would happen as a result? Why?
your  What effect would that have?
 Would that necessarily happen or only probably happen?
thoughts is  What is an alternative?
 What are the consequences of …?
assessing  Then what would happen if…?
yourself in  What are the implications of….?
 How does…fit with what we have learned before?
a healthy  Why is ….important?
way”
Questions about the Questions
 What generalization can you make?
 How can we find out?
 Is this the same issue as …?
 What does this question assume?
 How would ….put the issue?
 Would …put the question differently?
 Why is this question important?
 How could someone settle this question?
 Can we break this question down at all?
 Why do you think I asked this question?
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