The Productivity of the Socratic Method: A Modern Perspective
Highly Effective. And not just in an academic context.
I was once a philosophy student and now a software developer. There's a concept in software development called pair programming, where one person writes code while the second person helps indirectly. The second person can do internet research, make suggestions, and point out problems. In my experience, I often use the Socratic Method as the navigator during pair programming sessions.
A Real-World Success Story
Once, I had to pair program during a job interview as part of a three-round interview process. The pair-programming part was the second interview. My prospective boss was the driver, writing the code, and I was the navigator. We were working on an issue that he had been trying to solve for several weeks.
Together, we managed to solve it in less than fifteen minutes. This happened through the Socratic Method. I didn’t even do that much. I just asked a few targeted questions, and we were able to home in on a solution quite quickly. This was the second round of a three-round interview process, and guess what? They skipped the third interview and hired me on the spot.
The Socratic Method is often misunderstood. Many believe it's about winning arguments. However, it is actually about encouraging people to think. If done correctly, you don't need to explain anything. Just ask the right questions, and your interlocutor will figure it out on their own.
Remote Work and Collaboration
Most of my jobs have been remote, but whenever I've worked in-office, people seem to come by my desk a lot. 'Hey Caleb, you got a minute?' Much of my value comes from people bouncing ideas off of me. I credit my education in philosophy for this. The Socratic Method helps in these scenarios, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving.
The Misconception and Formal Education
I'm not a teacher, but the Socratic Method is known as maieutics. It is not suitable for formal teaching because it does not involve the transfer of knowledge from one person to another. The teacher knows less than the pupil. The teacher responds to the pupil but doesn't introduce anything new into the conversation; the pupil provides the new information. Therefore, it is not effective for formal education.
The question that follows is whether we need formal education. The Socratic Method emphasizes discovery and independent thought, which are still valuable skills. However, formal education provides structured learning and a broad foundation of knowledge, which can be invaluable in various fields.
Conclusion
The Socratic Method, or maieutics, is a powerful tool for encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving in both academic and professional settings. While it may not be suitable for traditional teaching, it can be incredibly effective in fostering independent thought and collaboration. Whether it's in a job interview or a remote meeting, the Socratic Method can be a highly productive approach in various contexts.