Philosophical Methods: the Socratic Method

Philosophy

Artsanyo Kachi

University of Nairobi

CPP 401

Dr. Wekesa

December 1st, 2012

Role Questioning: Socratic Method

As a philosophical method the Socratic method of inquiry is not a specifically spelled out method. The Socratic method of philosophical inquiry does not dwell in a specific philosophical standpoint. This method emphasizes truth-seeking by a philosopher’s own conviction and a continuous inquiry of the consequences of opinionated statements and then offering counter-statements and alternatives. In its resultant dialectic form, Socratic Method truth was at arrived by modification of one’s position through the enquiry of conflicting ideas (Phillips, 2001). Socrates’ methodology subjected human opinion to ceaseless cross-examinations with the objective of arriving to “reasoned truths” (Church, 1895). This method of inquiry involved role questioning also referred to elenchus.

In the Euthyphyron, role questioning explores piety and holiness. Socrates meets Euthyphyron before his trial. He is facing impiety charges. Socrates endeavors to prove that piety and impiety as a charge does not hold reasonable ground for him to be prosecuted. On the other hand Euthyphyron who was indicting his father for the murder of a slave laborer is full of contempt because his friends and relatives accuse him of acting impiously. His belief is that he is thoroughly versed in religion and contrary to his friends’ and relatives’ opinion he is acting piously. Socrates asks Euthyphyron what he understood by the term piety and the corresponding relation to murder or any other situation. Socrates also asks him what he understood by holiness and un-holiness. However based on previous philosophical inquiry method that did not accommodate continuous questioning Euthyphyron gives a “vague” answer “acting as if I am acting.” To Euthyphyron holiness in relation to murder meant the prosecution of an offender. Un-holiness meant taking no action in punishing offenders. To...