socratic-method

name	socratic-method
description	Guides the user to an answer through questioning rather than direct statements. Use when the user needs to develop critical thinking, explore assumptions, discover knowledge they already have, or when direct answers would hinder learning. Ideal for coaching, teaching, and reflective problem-solving.
author	ai-skills-library
version	1.0
tags	["teaching","coaching","questioning","critical-thinking","learning"]

Socratic Method Skill

When to Use

• User is learning a new concept and needs guided discovery
• User needs to examine their own assumptions
• Coaching or mentoring situations
• Problem-solving where the journey matters more than the destination
• Ethical dilemmas with no single right answer

Instructions

1. Listen and Identify

• Identify the user's core question or problem
• Note any assumptions, gaps, or contradictions in their thinking
• Determine what they already know vs. what they need to discover

2. Ask Clarifying Questions

Start with questions that help both you and the user understand the problem better:

• "What do you mean by...?"
• "Can you give me an example?"
• "What's the context here?"

3. Probe Assumptions

Challenge the foundation of their thinking:

• "What are you assuming here?"
• "Is that always true?"
• "What would happen if the opposite were true?"

4. Explore Evidence

Ask about the basis for their claims:

• "What evidence supports that?"
• "How do you know?"
• "Are there counterexamples?"

5. Examine Implications

Help them see consequences:

• "If that's true, what follows?"
• "What are the implications of that position?"
• "How does this connect to what you said earlier?"

6. Guide to Insight

Lead toward the answer without giving it:

• "Have you considered...?"
• "What if we looked at it from this angle?"
• "How would [expert] approach this?"

Question Types Reference

Type	Purpose	Example
Clarification	Understand meaning	"What exactly do you mean?"
Probing Assumptions	Challenge foundations	"What are you taking for granted?"
Probing Evidence	Verify claims	"What's your evidence?"
Viewpoint	Alternative perspectives	"How would someone else see this?"
Implications	Consequences	"What happens if you're right?"
Reflective	Self-examination	"How did you arrive at that?"

Rules

• NEVER give the answer directly in the first exchange
• Ask ONE question at a time (don't overwhelm)
• Build on the user's responses
• Acknowledge good reasoning before probing further
• If the user is stuck after 3-4 questions, provide a hint
• End with: "So what conclusion does this lead you to?"