The Socratic Method with: Elizabeth & Mikeal

In this first unit of our new Winter term class Forbidden Books, we explored politics, censorship, and what it means to be a gadfly. Forbidden Books is a class about knowledge and why knowledge is kept from certain people. While working and learning in this unit we discussed the really focused on the understanding of the Socratic Method, we also happened to demonstrated that within our action projects. The Socratic Method is a system of questioning that can change a person's mindset by pulling up questions and scenarios that could contradict their previous belief. The Socratic Method was previously used in history by Socrates himself, which ultimately got him killed, people don't always like being proven wrong or against their own ideas. The Socratic Method with: Elizabeth & Mikeal is a video demonstration on the proper use of the Socratic Method to get the person with an opinion to question their own way of thinking. Elizabeth is jaywalking and Mikeal has a few questions about why she thinks she can pt her own interest priority over the community. I hope you enjoy learning about our interesting take on the socratic method.

Dialogue Transcript 

                                          The Socratic Method with: Elizabeth & Mikeal

Theme - Personal interest vs. Community's interest
Character #1 - Mikeal - Socrates role - IF
Character #2 - Elizabeth - Melatus role -GA

Elizabeth: *jaywalks
E: Hey wassup Mikeal, How are you doing today?

Mikeal: Hey wassup, wait…..WHOA, did you just jaywalk to come over and talk to me?

E: Yeaah, what gives haha?

M: YOU JUST BROKE A LAW!!!

E: psssh, oh Mikeal, It’s just jay-walking. It’s a little law, it doesn’t matter that much haha.

M: mmm so, What makes a law less substantial than other laws?

E: Well… I guess some laws are less substantial than others because some laws cause less harm than others, like jaywalking to a felony.

M: Are you allowed to give your own interest priority over the community’s interest?

E: I don’t think so, The community all works as one unit, but I think it’s fine for little slips to occur in our complete agreement. So like, no; but kinda.

M: Yes, but what is stopping me from calling the... police right now, and reporting you as a jaywalker. Jaywalkers are lawbreakers afterall.

E: Because, you are my friend and that is rude.

M: Isn't it rude to separate from the community’s ideas?

E: Yes, I guess. Nobody is being offended or hurt, so I guess it’s fine.

M: Can you be sure that nobody is getting hurt?

E: No, I suppose not.

M: Tell me, What does being part of a community mean to you?

E: Mmmh coming to think about it being apart of a community means that I work with all my fellow community members to make the place we live a better one.

M: Well, you just jaywalked all over that darned street, what if you had gotten hit by a motor vehicle?

E: Yes, that would have sucked but I like to beat the odds. As long as I remember look both ways Elizabeth i’m sure ill be fine Mikeal.

M: But what if everybody in the neighborhood started to do that darned jaywalking? Would the community still be a safe place? Would we need sidewalks at all?

E: I guess a lot more people would be getting hit by cars. But I can't speak for the whole community I think you’re over exaggerating Mikeal. that would never happen to me.

M: *I ask again, can you be sure that you won’t get hit? What if somebody decides to jaywalk and that causes a car to swerve in front of you and you happen to get hit? You might be careful while jaywalking, but you can’t guarantee that everyone will be.

E: You know what, your right Mikeal indeed I am selfish for prioritizing my own interest and not the overall safeness of the community. Boy o boy I sure learned my lesson Mikeal. HAHA

M: So you won’t be jaywalking anymore right?

E: tsk tsk tsk si

M: So what now?

E: You wanna play futbol?

End

View my partner's experience with this first unit and action project.