Abstract
The Greek philosopher Socrates is used as an example of a master teacher in in many contexts, from elementary school discussions, to college philosophy classes, to law school. I examine a number of current uses of Socratic teaching, and expose inconsistencies among them. I analyze critically recent practitioners of Socratic teaching, such as Mortimer Adler, and I consider how the celebrated primary teacher Vivian Gussin Paley enacts the Socratic legacy in a novel way. I argue that the misuse, or abuse, of the Socratic legacy occurs chiefly when his teaching is interpreted narrowly as a pedagogical technique devoid of context and irony.Date
1997-11-01Type
ArticleIdentifier
oai:doaj.org/article:7397e7858c6c42f094a21b8df6954dad1068-2341
https://doaj.org/article/7397e7858c6c42f094a21b8df6954dad