The Socratic Method: Why Asking Questions Will Change Your Life (and Your Mind!)

What if the best way to learn is not to be told the answers, but to discover them for yourself? This is the promise of the Socratic method, the timeless technique of teaching by asking questions, perfected by Socrates and immortalized in Plato’s Phaedo. In the dialogue, Socrates never lectures—he invites, he challenges, he listens. His questions open up new worlds of possibility, encouraging his students to think more deeply and independently.

The Socratic method is now a staple of modern education. Teachers use it to spark discussion, lawyers to probe assumptions, and therapists to help clients uncover hidden beliefs. Studies show that students who engage in Socratic dialogue develop stronger critical thinking skills and greater confidence. The Phaedo’s example inspires us to embrace uncertainty, to value the process of inquiry, and to see learning as a lifelong adventure.

By practicing the Socratic method, we become not just better students, but better citizens, friends, and thinkers. The real lesson of the Phaedo is that wisdom is not a destination, but a journey—a journey best undertaken together, through the art of asking the right questions. 1 2