4 ms·
Despite completing degrees in philosophy, I've never experienced the sort of "Socratic" method that is apparently practiced in law schools. I gather that the ha
by Buldak 8y ago
Despite completing degrees in philosophy, I've never experienced the sort of "Socratic" method that is apparently practiced in law schools. I gather that the harm consists, not in the general method of posing questions, but the way that professors put students on the spot and may humiliate them if their answers are unsatisfactory. The point the author makes about the way that this ritual enforces hierarchy is interesting, too (my impression is that many aspects of elite law schools do this).
I guess you might defend the "Socratic" method as a way of encouraging student engagement. But I suspect that it really appeals to people who like the idea of discourse as combat (DEBATE ME!). As an aside, I'm struck that students in most other contexts have nearly the opposite attitude. That is, they maintain that they should be free to zone out or play with their phones or skip class altogether as long as they don't disturb others.
- imgabe 8y ago> I guess you might defend the "Socratic" method as a way of encouraging student engagement. But I suspect that it really appeals to people who like the idea of discourse as combat (DEBATE ME!) I think that is the trait that law schools want to select for.
- huffmsa 8y agoThat's the heart of the issue. The JD has recently become the envogue MBA. So it's been getting a lot of students who aren't there to actually learn about being a lawyer.
- nradov 8y agoA JD can be great training for business leaders even if they never intend on practicing law. It teaches people to get right to the heart of an issue and ask the essential questions. Some graduate schools offer joint JD/MBA programs.
- liftbigweights 8y ago> Despite completing degrees in philosophy, I've never experienced the sort of "Socratic" method that is apparently practiced in law schools The socratic method isn't really practiced anywhere in academia. Even in philosophy classes, it's mostly passive learning through an authority figure. It's why so many students take notes. You can't take notes while participating in a socratic discussion. Also, socratic method requires a small group ( preferably 1 on 1 ) where you throw questions and answers back and forth. In a class of 20 or 200, that's simply not practical. A parent and a child sometimes engage in socratic discussions. The kid asks a question, parent answers, then the kid ask question in relation to the answer and then the parent might ask "why do you think that is" and back and forth. The socratic method requires a lot of investment on both parties/sides. Whereas passive learning doesn't require much investment. Professor lectures and the students copies what he says.
- watwut 8y agoWhy would it be impossible to take notes during discussion of questions and answers? If it is, then the whole discussion was likely about speed and reflex instead of thought out answers (which takes a bit more time and is slower).
- mistrial9 8y agothe mental environment is wits, response and inquiry in real time.. it is a different cognative mode than writing notes. Notes are actively discouraged.
- EthanHeilman 8y agoMy personal experience is that the Socratic method is still used in academia and that classes are rarely "students passively learning through an authority figure." However I recognize my experiences are a very small sample size (I've only taken classes at a few different universities). Do you have any sources which show that "The Socratic method isn't really practiced anywhere in academia"?