Worked Examples
Examples of Socratic questioning
Short, modern dialogues showing the Socratic method at work. Notice that the questioner rarely tells the answerer they are wrong — they just keep asking.
On a 'good' job
"I just want a good job."
What makes a job 'good' for you — pay, meaning, freedom, something else?
Mostly meaning, I think. But pay matters too.
If a meaningful job paid 30% less than a meaningless one, would you take it?
Honestly… probably not, right now.
So is 'meaning' the value, or is it the value once a financial floor is met? And what is that floor?
Takeaway: Naming the trade-off is more useful than naming the goal.
On 'I just know'
"I just know they're lying to me."
What would have to be true for them not to be lying?
I guess… some plausible reason for the inconsistency.
Have you looked for one, or only for confirmations of the lie?
Probably the second.
Is the feeling of knowing the same as knowing? When have you been very sure and wrong?
Takeaway: Certainty is a feeling, not evidence.
On happiness
"I'd be happy if I had more time."
More time for what, specifically?
Reading. Walking. Being with people I love.
On the day you had your most free time recently, how did you spend it?
Scrolling, mostly.
So is the missing thing time — or the discipline to use the time you already have?
Takeaway: Often the constraint we name isn't the constraint we have.
Try one of these on yourself.
Begin a dialogue