A Socratic seminar follows Socrates’ belief that asking questions is superior to a debate. Socrates also believed that asking questions rather than discussing the topic helps people understand better. Based on this, you can answer the question, “What is a Socratic seminar?”

What is a Socratic seminar?

A Socratic seminar is a formal event where the leaders or moderators ask open-ended questions based on a pre-selected work. Then, the audience – usually students – listen to each other, ponder the topic, and then reply to the others or offer up their thoughts.

A Socratic seminar is all about critical thinking and respecting the views of others. Due to the questions asked, you can expect different points of view from different audiences. The audience usually gets the recommended text beforehand to familiarize themselves.