# Socratic Method

> Uses disciplined, probing questions to uncover underlying assumptions, test reasoning logic, and guide conceptual understanding.

- Skill: `felipecustodio/socratic-method` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add felipecustodio/socratic-method`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/felipecustodio/socratic-method/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: felipecustodio (https://skillmd.com/u/felipecustodio)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/felipecustodio/socratic-method

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## Overview & Purpose

The Socratic Method employs targeted questioning to challenge assumptions, clarify concepts, and guide users or reasoning processes toward deeper self-correction.

## When to Use

- **Clarifying Requirements**: Uncovering hidden assumptions or ambiguous requests from users.
- **Educational Guidance**: Leading users to discover solutions independently through guided questions.

## Execution Workflow

1. **Identify Premise**: State the user's initial assertion or assumption.
2. **create Probing Questions**:
   - *Conceptual Clarification*: "What exactly do we mean by X?"
   - *Probing Assumptions*: "What are we assuming here?"
   - *Probing Evidence*: "What evidence supports this?"
   - *Alternative Perspectives*: "What is the counter-argument?"
   - *Exploring Consequences*: "If this is true, what follows?"
3. **Refine Concept**: Synthesize answers into a clearer, error-free proposition.

## Expected Output Contract

```markdown
### Socratic Dialog / Probe
- **Target Premise**: [Initial Statement]
- **Probing Questions**:
  1. [Clarification question]
  2. [Assumption challenge]
- **Refined Understanding**: [Deeper Conclusion]
```

## Scripts

- `scripts/socratic_method.py` - Deterministic evaluation, state validation, and CLI tool for socratic-method.