Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, challenged his students with a simple command: “Know thyself.” He developed a reputation as a wise teacher by asking questions that forced people to examine their own beliefs. Today, this practice is known as the Socratic Method, and it forms the core of our classical approach to history.
Take a moment to think of some of your most fundamental beliefs. Did you create them out of thin air?
Not likely. Instead, you probably learned them from your parents, from great books, from religious teachers, from culture — in a word, from history.
History is not just a series of events that students must memorize to pass a test. Rather, the voice of the self is history, speaking in the present.
This is why the study of history is not merely an academic exercise. It is a discipline that leads to self-knowledge and, with time, to wisdom.
Take a moment to think of some of your most fundamental beliefs. Did you create them out of thin air?
Not likely. Instead, you probably learned them from your parents, from great books, from religious teachers, from culture — in a word, from history.
History is not just a series of events that students must memorize to pass a test. Rather, the voice of the self is history, speaking in the present.
This is why the study of history is not merely an academic exercise. It is a discipline that leads to self-knowledge and, with time, to wisdom.
Seeking Wisdom the Socratic Way
Wisdom, not just knowledge, is the ultimate goal of a classical education. That is why we put the Socratic discussion at the center of our classical history curriculum. History—open to interpretation, rich with meaning, complex in its consequences—is perfectly suited for a back-and-forth interaction between students, the teacher, and the past.
Every Socratic discussion begins with a question that invites debate. For example, in our American history workbook, students respond to the following prompts:
As they encounter differing perspectives, students have to rebut counter-arguments or adjust their conclusions. In this process of Socratic reasoning, students start to realize how little they really understand.
That realization is the first step towards wisdom.
Every Socratic discussion begins with a question that invites debate. For example, in our American history workbook, students respond to the following prompts:
- Was the US justified in the Mexican-American War?
- Which branch of the federal government is the strongest?
- Did the New Deal strengthen America, or weaken it?
As they encounter differing perspectives, students have to rebut counter-arguments or adjust their conclusions. In this process of Socratic reasoning, students start to realize how little they really understand.
That realization is the first step towards wisdom.
Socratic Teaching and Character Development
The Socratic teacher doesn’t try to fill their students' heads with facts. Instead, Socratic teachers cultivate a capacity for learning and self-reflection. This capacity is nurtured by the virtues.
Humility may be the most important intellectual virtue. A young person who thinks they know everything has no reason to learn anything. Similarly, an adult know-it-all will rush to censor opinions contrary to their own. An education that fails to instill humility has failed both students, and society.
That’s why the Socratic approach is essential. All it takes is a few Socratic discussions to drive home the point that the world is far more complicated than any of us could even imagine.
Once students become aware of their own ignorance, they naturally grow more humble, curious, and open. The Socratic teacher helps them along on the path of virtue.
Humility may be the most important intellectual virtue. A young person who thinks they know everything has no reason to learn anything. Similarly, an adult know-it-all will rush to censor opinions contrary to their own. An education that fails to instill humility has failed both students, and society.
That’s why the Socratic approach is essential. All it takes is a few Socratic discussions to drive home the point that the world is far more complicated than any of us could even imagine.
Once students become aware of their own ignorance, they naturally grow more humble, curious, and open. The Socratic teacher helps them along on the path of virtue.
Developing a Foundation for Civic Life
Perhaps there’s another reason to practice the Socratic method of teaching: it prepares young people for civic responsibility.
The American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton remarked that, “It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.” The story of America can only be understood by citizens who are capable of reflection on difficult questions.
In Socratic discussions, students learn to reckon with, and to respect, opposing viewpoints. In the exercise of historical judgment, they learn to discipline their opinions with facts. And in researching for the strongest evidence they can find, they build the critical thinking skills needed to be good citizens.
The American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton remarked that, “It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.” The story of America can only be understood by citizens who are capable of reflection on difficult questions.
In Socratic discussions, students learn to reckon with, and to respect, opposing viewpoints. In the exercise of historical judgment, they learn to discipline their opinions with facts. And in researching for the strongest evidence they can find, they build the critical thinking skills needed to be good citizens.
How to Be a Socratic Teacher
Being a Socratic teacher might sound intimidating, but it’s not complicated. In some ways, it’s even simpler than traditional teaching. That’s because the Socratic teacher does not focus on lecturing. Instead, they challenge students with questions.
In the context of a history class, the Socratic teacher should start by equipping their students with basic research skills. For example, students need to know the difference between fact and opinion so they can defend their arguments with facts. Similarly, they need to be able to quote historical figures properly to make their arguments as persuasive as possible.
Once have those fundamental skills in place, the role of the Socratic teacher is to facilitate discussion. Ideally, each history class would have a number of students who can debate together. However, in a homeschool setting, this may not always be possible.
In cases where students are learning history alone, the role of the Socratic teacher is to be skeptical and ask lots of questions. Some of the Socratic questioning strategies that work best for homeschool history classes include:
Note that you don’t have to be an expert historian to ask these questions. You simply have to model the intellectual humility that defines the Socratic approach to history.
In the context of a history class, the Socratic teacher should start by equipping their students with basic research skills. For example, students need to know the difference between fact and opinion so they can defend their arguments with facts. Similarly, they need to be able to quote historical figures properly to make their arguments as persuasive as possible.
Once have those fundamental skills in place, the role of the Socratic teacher is to facilitate discussion. Ideally, each history class would have a number of students who can debate together. However, in a homeschool setting, this may not always be possible.
In cases where students are learning history alone, the role of the Socratic teacher is to be skeptical and ask lots of questions. Some of the Socratic questioning strategies that work best for homeschool history classes include:
- Questioning the evidence. How strong is it? What sources are being used? Are they trustworthy?
- Questioning the conclusion. Is this really the best answer? What about issues X, Y, or Z? Can the student prove that they’re right?
- Questioning the reasoning. Is this argument logically sound? Does the evidence support the conclusion, or is it only somewhat related to it?
Note that you don’t have to be an expert historian to ask these questions. You simply have to model the intellectual humility that defines the Socratic approach to history.
What About K-5 Students?
Young people are ready for the Socratic-Method approach to education around age 11. Before then, we recommend using history games and stories to introduce elementary students to historical content.
History card games can be a great way to boost visual memory without the need for drilling. That way, by the time students are ready for Socratic discussions, they’ll already be familiar with some of the most important people, places, and events of history.
History card games can be a great way to boost visual memory without the need for drilling. That way, by the time students are ready for Socratic discussions, they’ll already be familiar with some of the most important people, places, and events of history.
Resources for Socratic Teachers
- Teaching the Socratic Discussion in History, our video series, lays out a simple, accessible way to teach history with the Socratic Method. Our videos were made for both traditional school and homeschool educators.
- Curriculum bundles provide teachers with complete history curriculum and card games for grades 6-12. Our bundles are designed for use in homeschool, co-op, and classroom settings. Each bundle includes a history textbook, a Socratic discussion workbook, and recommended primary source readings.
- History Games harness students’ competitive spirit for good. Instead of drilling students to memorize facts, our history card games, which include Go Fish and Memory, make learning fun.
- The Dolphin Society is our community of Socratic history teachers. Here, you can find rich education resources, including The Story of Liberty video course, America's Federal Holidays, articles and biographies, audio materials, classroom management tips, and a book club.
- The Online Academy launched to give homeschoolers a chance to participate in Socratic discussions about history, literature, and government & economics.
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