great philosopher Socrates invented a unique method of discussion called maieutics.This is a very effective technique, which is used in our time.In fact, he is probably the only way to convince your opponent to the contrary.In this companion you can cleverly cornered by his statements.What is the essence and uniqueness of this method?Let's try to figure it out.
Socrates and his life
about the life of Socrates do not know very much, but the information that has reached us through the centuries, is very interesting.
Socrates - Athenian philosopher, born in 469 BC.e.It was his figure marked a turn in the so-called philosophy - consideration of the nature of the consideration of human rights.
With regard to the life and fate of the philosopher, some theologians of the patristic period drew analogies between Socrates and Jesus.It is known that the first was the son of a sculptor.In adulthood, he married Xanthippe - very grumpy woman, whose name has even become a household word.
«All I know is that I know nothing, but others do not even know it."Perhaps everyone has heard this phrase, which, according to the researchers, belongs to Socrates.According to this principle he lived.
known that the philosopher did not leave behind a single line.His thoughts and beliefs of mankind has known only from the writings of his disciples - Xenophon and Plato.Socrates was convinced that writing your own thoughts weakens the human memory.By the truth of his disciples thinker he summed via the aligned skillfully dialogue.It was in conversations and dialogues, and he created his own method, now known under the name of maieutics.This can be called a great contribution to philosophical thought.
trial of Socrates and the death of the philosopher
In 399 BC, the great sage was accused of blasphemy and of corrupting the younger generation.On the ship's course Socrates we learn from the works of Plato and Xenophon.Philosopher refused to pay a fine as well as the proposal to kidnap his friends from prison.
Was Socrates really guilty?According to modern historians from the University of Cambridge, it was.At the time the action eccentric philosopher could really be classified as illegal.
As a result, the thinker, was sentenced to death, and he took poison.The process in detail the death of Socrates, Plato describes the same.What exactly it was poisoned sage unknown.According to one hypothesis, it was spotted hemlock.
Socrates really was a victim of his wisdom.However, his thoughts are living today, including alive and unique method of maieutics.Let us try to understand in more detail what it is, what are its characteristics.
Socratic method
maieutics - is "the art of the midwife," as he called it Socrates himself.You can also find this definition as the "Socratic irony" or "Socratic conversation."
maieutics in philosophy - is, in fact, a way to implement the principle of "Know thyself."With this technique the opponent is not only aware of his wrong, he also becomes a seeker of true knowledge."There is nothing stronger than knowledge" - so said Socrates ...
In Greek, maieutics - a "midwife art."The essence of this method lies in the fact that through the formulation of guiding specially-designed questions to bring the interlocutor to understand the real state of affairs.Thus, the opponent he comes to the truth, and you just quietly pushed him to it.
maieutics Socrates - is primarily the ability to put questions literate dialogue.The philosopher was convinced that true knowledge can come only through self-knowledge of another person.And this requires a process of purification is carried out by asking questions about the essence of a phenomenon.
maieutics Socrates - the weapon in an intellectual dispute
great philosopher personally developed a method that has not lost its relevance to the present day.No one will deny that it is a dialogue, a discussion, a constructive debate is an important tool for obtaining new knowledge and understanding of the level of their incompetence.
In general, Socrates in his life and did just that asking questions.He liked to talk with overconfident person, watch it, tangled in his tricky questions immediately lost its all his arrogance and confidence.
It should be noted that the dialogue on a "question and answer" was actively used, and other philosophers, in particular - the sophists.However, they have such a dispute was only an end in itself.But Socrates never engaged in verbiage, he believed that any dialogue should lead to a specific purpose.In his talks, he himself tried to find answers to the fundamental questions of life: "What kind of evil?", "What is justice?"and so on. n.
Examples maieutics Socrates
Socrates was very sly, ironic and dangerous companion.Normally, in conversation, he pretended to be naive simpleton, luring the opponent into its insidious network.
is a record of a conversation with some sage Menon.To begin with Socrates asked recently about the way its activities.Unaware of any dirty tricks, good-natured Menon begins to teach a philosopher.Very soon, however, as a result of well-posed questions, the caller finally lost.Socrates, in turn, continues to sneer at naïve victim.
When the opponent loses its self-confidence, he was ready for a joint search for the truth.Asking another, Socrates himself explored the subject, because it did not consider myself knowledgeable.That's why he called his art "midwives", because in such a dialogue, and the truth is born.
Short conclusions
Thus, maieutics in philosophy - is the art of asking questions.Socrates was convinced that "know - it means to know what it is."That is, to be fair, you need to clearly understand what justice is, and be able to give it an adequate definition.Therefore, Socrates is first raised to the level of knowledge of concepts.
before us maieutics method has not lost its relevance even after more than two thousand years after its invention.And today you can find craftsmen who effectively use this technique in practice.
