Scribd
Upload
10 views1 page

Understanding the Socratic Method in Law

Uploaded by

Aperios Pixse
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views1 page

Understanding the Socratic Method in Law

Uploaded by

Aperios Pixse
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Socratic Method

Socrates (470-399 BC) was a Greek philosopher who sought to get to the foundations
of his students’ and colleagues’ views by asking continual questions until a
contradiction was exposed, thus proving the fallacy of the initial assumption. This
became known as the Socratic Method, and may be Socrates’ most enduring
contribution to philosophy.

Our students discover quickly that the Socratic Method is a tool and a good one at that
used to engage a large group of students in a discussion, while using probing
questions to get at the heart of the subject matter. The Socratic Method is not used at
UChicago to intimidate, nor to “break down” new law students, but instead for the
very reason Socrates developed it: to develop critical thinking skills in students and
enable them to approach the law as intellectuals.

The Law School is proud of its excellent teachers and their use of this time-tested
method. For more about the Socratic Method at UChicago, see the essay by Elizabeth
Garrett from this The Green Bag website. (Copyright 1998 by The Green Bag, Inc.)

You might also like