Socratic Questioning

Origin. The Platonic elenchus; Paul and Elder's taxonomy.

Mechanism. Elicits the interlocutor's commitments, then derives a contradiction among them from the interlocutor's own premises. The refutation is internal, so it cannot be deflected by rejecting the questioner's framework.

Procedure. Six classes: clarification; probing assumptions; probing reasons and evidence; alternative viewpoints; implications and consequences; questions about the question. Do not supply answers.

Applies to. Any belief held with more confidence than its grounds support.

Limitations. Adversarial in effect regardless of intent. Also: elenchus establishes inconsistency, never truth. The interlocutor who abandons a position under it has learned that their beliefs conflict, not which one is wrong.