The Socratic Method is used primarily to challenge students to rethink preexisting ideas through inquiry and discussion. Based upon Socrates’ paradox “I know that I know nothing,” the Socratic method requires students to discard what they think they already know about a subject, and instead, approach the discussion from a new angle. The ultimate goal of this method, therefore, is to promote critical thinking among discussion participants by illustrating and challenging what the students know -- or think they know.
As any good persuasive speaker can attest, to win an argument, you must be able to acknowledge -- and refute -- a contradicting viewpoint. The Socratic method allows students to challenge each other by pointing out flaws in their classmates’ arguments, which strengthens the arguer’s own points. Because of these opposing viewpoints, Socratic seminar can become tense, so students should be prepared for periods of uncomfortable silence -- what Stanford University deems "productive discomfort."
Because the Socratic method uses discussion to analyze a given subject, students can acquire a deeper and more thorough understanding of a concept. For example, if the question “What is courage?” is the topic, students can gain a much more thorough understanding of the term through Socratic method, than if their professor simply provided a lecture on the definition of courage. The method’s question-and-answer-based format allows students to approach a certain topic from many different angles, thereby strengthening their understanding.
According to Stanford University, the Socratic method requires students to account for “themselves, their thoughts, actions and beliefs” by revealing “the motivations and assumptions upon which students lead their lives. In a Socratic seminar, students must overcome their fears and anxieties about sharing their personal views. Instead, they must be able to support their reasoning and justify their own viewpoints -- and not simply regurgitate the facts and research of another expert.