The Socratic Irony, What It Is and How To Use It Blog
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What exactly does it mean when you find something Socratic? Socratic irony can be described as one of a variety of types of irony that are used in writing and other forms of media. And once you understand the meaning behind it and how utilize it in your the writing process as well as in the real world of discussions.
Here's our short and sweet guide to Socratic irony. We'll also give you examples and a few best practice tips for using it when writing.
Quick Links
- What Is Socratic Irony?
- Example of Socratic Irony
- What is the Best Way to Utilize Socratic Irony in Writing
What is Socratic Irony?
Socratic irony can be described as a form of irony in which a verb uses fake ignorance to lead someone in a particular direction. As it's a back-and forth exchange, it is most commonly found in dialogue between two or more characters. It's also a popular interviewing technique, particularly in investigative journalism.
The irony in this form can be attributed to Socrates himself, whose Socratic method of instruction used the false claims of ignorance to highlight weaknesses in his students' philosophical thinking and guide them on towards the right response. This method proved so efficient that it's still an indispensable instrument in educational and written work, in spite of the fact that Socrates did not leave any writing behind.
Its strategic use when writing may help to illuminate new ideas and plot devices making use of dialog as a means of discovery and sending both character and reader on the right path. As with any form of verbal irony--where the character is saying something when they're saying something else--it's an effective and subtle technique to communicate your message and expose inconsistencies within different ways of thought.
"Socratic Irony" Definition
Care for a shorter definition?
Socratic irony occurs the situation where one party pretends they're not sure of the subject matter they're discussing, in the hope of showing flaws in what the other person is saying.
If done correctly, Socratic irony can be useful in leading readers and characters to come to the right conclusions. Even if the person isn't able to connect the dots, readers are nevertheless able to observe the challenge of their ideas and formulate more informed judgments about what's really going on.
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Example of Socratic Irony
If you're looking for examples, the best way to begin is an area you may not have expected: The Daily Show.
The Daily Showpresents real news, but often through satirical and humorous interviews, which poke at those (willfully or unknowingly) not understanding the issue in forming incorrect, hilarious conclusions. The interviews are full of Socratic humor, where the interviewer merely trying to pretend that they are taking his or her interviewee's opinions seriously while holding a dialogue in accordance with that fake pretense.
What makes this use of the tool so successful is the fact that viewers are engaged in the conversation. It serves to heighten the humor in these exchanges and highlights the fact that the person being interviewed really is. The fact whether the person being interviewed rarely gets to reality, as this type of humor is used to entertain viewers, not for educational reasons.
An older example can be located in the work of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. In this classic novel there are characters having opinions that are fundamentally incorrect, particularly with regard to race. Because we the readers know that these views are false--and know that Twain doesn't intend to prove that they're truthful--we can discover a deeper meaning behind the beliefs of characters and their life experiences which have been the catalyst for their beliefs.
How to Use Socratic Irony in Writing
The most effective way to employ Socratic irony is during dialog. You can try it in situations where one character is attempting to get another character to reveal a truth, such as during a trial or interrogation. You can also use it in the same way that Twain utilized it, however this is a bit trickier in the sense that you have to be able to provide solid and exact predictions regarding your audience and what they know and believe.
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