Form of Socratic Question-
Socratic question is usually posed as an epistemological one, concerned with knowledge. The form of question is what is x ( say Justice)? Is x (justice) better than y (Injustice). In order to answer the question of this form we need to know the exact definition of justice, as it cannot be explained by opinion. When you see different acts of justice you need to see the common characteristics of all the acts to arrive at a definition. Thus, he had emphasized the epistemological approach to a ethical issue. Because for example, if I don’t know what a bird is, I won’t be able to say just what I am seeing if I see a bird. If I don’t know what a bird is I can’t give you a scientific or expert definition but I can define it on condition of its use/functions. So, does Socrates really think if I cannot define justice I cannot have its general sense or definition. But the demand for definition might simply be a demand for clarity regarding the subject under discussion. Socrates uses this idea of expert knowledge to suggest that there are areas of human life where such expertise is needed. For example, if for political matter I consult to a doctor it will be wrong as doctor is expert in medical area only. So, we need to recognize recognize a fallacy of inappropriate authority. Aristotle credits Socrates for moving from particular to general by means of induction. Because common feature must give us some substantial understanding of not only what all goods have in common but also what makes them good. To know or define a thing is thus to be able to articulate what it does best.
One crucial feature of Socratic question was that he himself refused to provide any answer, claiming that he did not know. Thus, his ignorance became a mark of wisdom, a kind of superior self-knowledge while others who thought they were wise were actually ignorant. He is recommending self-knowledge as the real aim of philosophical examination and need for rigorous standard for personal conduct, based on reason rather than received opinion. People are ignorant of virtue he thinks because they value the wrong things- money, pleasure, reputation. He is searching for self-knowledge which he will acquire only by getting definition of things like virtue and all. His art to question other and then refuting them in their answer has strengthen the Dialectical method introduced by Zeno.
Dialectical Method-
He acquire knowledge by this method. Socratic argumentative method is called ‘Elenchus’ is used in connection with the examination of witness in court. It consists of asking leading questions where the respondent must make one of two offered choices. By asking a series of suitable questions Socrates forces his opponent into self-contradiction just like a chess master can force his opponent into checkmate, providing a reductio ad absurdum. Thus, he refutes his opponent by assuming the truth of his premises.
Characteristics of Dialectical Method-
1- The method is applied only to beliefs that the respondent himself hold. It will not examine second hand beliefs.
2- It emphasize the importance of philosophy s an active exercise of reason
3- By giving the reasoning the person himself exercised his reasoning faculty to understand things.
Whatever wisdom you receive you question that and by this method you can get good arguments for definition.
4- It can disprove a thesis but not prove one directly.
5- In this method morality becomes co-extensive with rationality.
6- We cannot simply argue for the sake of arguing.
7- It can reveal the ignorance of those who think they know.
8- It is different from Zenonian dialectic as it draws conclusion from single premise, where as Socrates heuristic method makes use of independent additional premise.
Through this method Socrates became wise man as he said he is ignorant and concluded that
“virtue is knowledge”.
