Socratic method

In this method, a series of questions are posed to help a person or group to determine their underlying beliefs and the extent of their knowledge. The Socratic method is a negative method of hypothesis elimination, in that better hypotheses are found by steadily identifying and eliminating those which lead to contradictions. It was designed to force one to examine his own beliefs and the validity of such beliefs.

Wikipedia contributors, ""Socrates,"" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Socrates&oldid=104415037 (accessed January 31, 2007).