Socratic Questioning and Critical Thinking @ Humanist Gathering

Join us to explore the power of questions for improving your thinking and engaging in challenging conversations with friends or foes. In this thought-provoking and practical presentation, we will demonstrate how curiosity can lead the way and questions become the foundation of deeper understanding. Come learn how Socratic questioning illuminates the structures and processes of our thinking and helps us approach controversial topics.

We will examine how Socratic questioning is used to explore complex ideas to get to the truth of things, to open up issues and problems, to uncover assumptions, to analyze concepts, to distinguish what we know from what we don’t, and to follow out logical implications of thought. How using Socratic questioning with people who disagree with us can promote understanding, surface assumptions, and explore reasoning without lecturing or escalating.

In this presentation we will discuss:

• How thinking is driven by questions
• What Socratic questioning is—and how it works
• Socratic questioning , Socratic method, and Socratic dialogue
• What critical thinking brings to Socratic questioning
• Historical contributions of Socrates
• Putting the dialectic process at the heart of teaching and learning
• Opportunities to practice Socratic questioning with one another
• Helpful resources to continue developing your skills

This session offers practical tools and meaningful insights to elevate the way you think, question, and engage with ideas.

The presentation and discussion will be from 3:00—4:30, facilitated by HumanistsMN members Matt Brennecke and Kazi Ahmed Habib. Afterwards, join other Secular Saturday attendees in the gallery for refreshments and socializing.

HumanistsMN is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and caring community for all our members. We welcome everyone who shares our humanist principles. We acknowledge the dignity and worth of all people -- every race, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, social class, abilities, or disabilities. We actively promote a culture of respect, belonging, and compassion as we strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive. By participating in HumanistsMN events, you agree to conduct yourself in accordance with these values.

This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate at humanistsmn.org.