Socrates Elenchus Verses Scientific Theory

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The Socrates Elenchus was Socrates way of questioning a proposal. His method is tested and explained in Plato’s Euthyphro and Meno. Socrates’ method is a series of steps that are meant to test or challenge a claim. The scientific method is a modern day method used to test a theory. Both Socrates’ Elenchus and the Scientific method have similarities and differences.
Socrates’ method is very alike to the scientific method however; Socrates’ method seems to be less effective than the scientific method. Socrates has a very in depth method and the answer for the initial proposed qustion must meet certain criteria.
Even though the Socratic elenchus was initially used by Socrates to question or, “elicit a statement of the nature or essence of some important virtue” (Shields, 37). Socrates’ method can still be used today, but isn’t for many reasons. Both the scientific method and the Socratic elenchus are a series of questions or steps that are used to try to find an answer.
Socrates was a man who claimed to know nothing and therefore left no pieces of writing behind. However Plato documented detailed accounts of Socrates using the Socratic elenchus in Meno and Euthyphro.
Meno claimed to teach virtue and charged a fee for his teachings. (Shields, 39). Socrates believed that in order to be able to teach what virtue, Meno therefore must know what virtue is. (Meno, Plato, 89b-e) Socrates claimed to be ignorant and professed to be in search of knowledge. Therefore since Meno claimed to have knowledge of what virtue is, Socrates saw this as a perfect scenario where he could ask his series of questions. In order for Meno to meet Socrates’ criteria and give a valid answer as to what virtue is he must meet two requirem...

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Works Citied
Cohen, S. Marc. "Apology, Euthyphro, Meno." Readings in ancient Greek philosophy from Thales to Aristotle. 4th ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub., 2011. 135-178, 241-266. Print.
Dye, John. "Socratic Method and Scientific Method." Socratic Method & Scientific Method. Northern Illinois University , n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. .
Kishlansky, Mark A.. "Plato, The Apology." Sources of World History: readings for world civilization. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. 52. Print.
Shields, Christopher John. "Socrates." Ancient philosophy: a contemporary introduction. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2011. 35-57. Print.
"Steps of the Scientific Method." Steps of the Scientific Method. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. .

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