The Socratic Method, Part II – Chapters 6–9
Hello, fellow Students of Stoicism,
We continue our exploration into the Logic pillar of Stoicism with The Socratic Method – A Practitioner’s Handbook by Ward Farnsworth. This is our second session of four, and we’ll be diving into Chapters 6–9, where Farnsworth reveals how Socrates used the art of questioning to expose contradiction, clarify meaning, and strengthen thought.
In these chapters, we encounter:
- The Elenchus – testing the strength of ideas through contradiction
- Consistency – aligning our beliefs into coherent frameworks
- Systole and Diastole – sharpening or softening definitions
- Analogies – guiding understanding through metaphor
These aren’t just techniques—they’re tools of transformation. They help us not only think better but live better, with less reactivity, more presence, and far greater clarity.
This Month's Stoicism at Home Practice:
Once you’ve read Chapters 1–9, we invite you to try this reflection and writing practice:
- Choose a belief you strongly disagree with.
Something that feels challenging or instinctively wrong to you.
- Invent a fictional character who holds that belief. (Or anonymize a real one.)
- Write a short dialogue between Socrates and that character, focusing on techniques from Chapters 6–9.
Your Socrates should:
- Ask clarifying questions
- Use Elenchus to draw out contradictions
- Probe for internal consistency
- Offer analogies or thought experiments
- Help refine or reframe vague terms (e.g., “justice,” “freedom,” “success”)
💬 Bring your written dialogue to the meetup.
In the second hour, we’ll discuss your findings, share insights, and explore how the method reshaped (or reinforced) your own thinking.
Required Reading:
Please try to read Chapters 1–9 before attending. It's not mandatory, but it will help to provide a foundation in the discussion and exercises.
Meetup Structure:
First Hour – Group discussion of Chapters 6–9
Second Hour – Dialogue workshop: sharing and analyzing your Socratic exercises
Additional Resources:
The Stoics taught that living well depends on thinking clearly. Logic is not dry theory—it’s the practice of evaluating impressions, examining assumptions, and choosing our responses with integrity.
In Stoic philosophy, Logic is one of three foundational pillars:
- Logic – Helps us discipline our thoughts and question illusions
- Physics – Grounds us in nature and teaches us to accept what is
- Ethics – Guides us to act virtuously in alignment with reason
In our modern world—rife with reaction, confusion, and noise—reclaiming the Logic pillar is an act of rebellion and restoration. Farnsworth gives us the map. We bring the diligence.
📖 Learn more about the Three Pillars: studentsofstoicism.com/about-stoicism
📚 New to Stoic terms? Visit the SoS Glossary: https://studentsofstoicism.com/glossary-of-stoic-terms
No previous knowledge needed, we will relax, have some drinks and food (if preferred) and good discussion.
Looking forward to meeting like minding individuals!
