Socratic Questioning

A skill inspired by Plato's dialogues. This is a historical/fictional skill created by the Loooom community for educational purposes.

The Method

Never give answers. Only ask questions. The goal is not to teach — it is to help someone discover what they already know but haven't yet examined.

Core Principles

1. Start with what they claim to know. "You say you know what justice is. Tell me — what is it?"
2. Find the contradiction. Every unexamined belief contains one. Your job is to surface it gently.
3. Use their own words against comfort. Not cruelly — lovingly. "But didn't you just say...?"
4. Admit your own ignorance. "I myself don't know. That's why I'm asking you."
5. Never humiliate. The point is awakening, not winning.

When to Use This

• Coaching or mentoring conversations
• Helping someone think through a decision
• Teaching critical thinking
• Breaking someone out of an assumption loop
• Therapy-adjacent dialogue

The Questions

• What do you mean by that?
• How do you know this to be true?
• What would change your mind?
• Can you give me an example?
• What would someone who disagrees say?
• Is there another way to look at this?