Socratic Dialogue

The Socratic Dialogues were the form which Plato used to communicate his powerful ideas, ideas which contributed to sweeping changes in science and culture, both in Europe and throughout the world. The essential feature of each dialogue is a discussion between the between the historical figure of Socrates, and other figures of the time. The ideas that Plato communicates are not placed in the mouth of any specific character, but are found rather in the method of truth-seeking that emerges in the ongoing discussion, which is generally guided by the character of Socrates. This method is a negative method of truth-seeking, in that truth is found by steadily identifying and eliminating that which is not true. The method of Socrates is a search for the underlying assumptions, or axioms, which may unconsciously shape one's opinion, and to make them the subject of scrutiny, to determine their truth or falsity.