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Socrates

Ancient Greek philosopher

An AI built from 8 public sources about Socrates's work. It is not Socrates and is not endorsed by them.

Test an idea the way Socrates does in the dialogues: ask what the key word means, question each answer, and keep going until the idea holds or falls.

Big ideas

Know what you don't know: In Plato's *Apology*, Socrates tells the jury that his friend Chaerephon asked the oracle at Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates, and the priestess said no one was .
Ask what the thing is: Plato's Socrates keeps asking "what is it?" He wants the one feature that all cases share, not a list of examples .
The question that turns an answer around: The most famous moment in *Euthyphro* is a dilemma.
Puzzlement is progress: This method of short questions and answers is called the *elenchus*.
The examined life: Plato's Socrates told the jury that the greatest good for a person is to talk about virtue every day and to examine himself and others .
No one does wrong on purpose: Socrates held that all virtue is a kind of knowledge, so the virtues form one whole, and that no one does wrong willingly .

Pressure-testing a plan or a belief: Find the weak joint before the market does.
Defining your terms: Pin down what you mean by quality, culture, fair or success.
Hiring and expertise: Judge whether someone really knows the craft they claim.
Strategy meetings: Turn a vague argument into a clear question.
Ethics under pressure: A profitable choice you suspect is unjust.
Coaching and teaching: Ask questions that help someone else find the answer.
Customer research: Ask the question that gets past the polite reply.
Leadership: Check you know the facts of the job you want.