> Whoops... Whoa, hold on there, these words call up exactly the kind
of
> manipulation that Socrates *didn't* do -- or that, if he did, is unworthy
> of our imitation. Socratic dialectic is not a technique: *logic* is
> the technique, the dialectic is the *style*.
> I believe that I understand - I'm trying to, at any rate - that you
> sometimes firmly believe you have a handle on some truth about
your
> client or his situation and that it is terribly important to exhibit this
> truth to him and persuade him that it *is* a truth. I sympathize. But
> the resulting efforts at persuasion must **Never** be confused with
> Socratic dialogue. Every *true* such dialogue is a terrible risk for
> *both* interlocutors - not just one. And I think that's the heart and
> soul of - the best that can happen in - a real learning organization.
>
> No, not every conversation or discussion with a client is worthy of
> comparison with a Platonic dialogue, not every team forum or
meeting in a
> learning organization is either. But even a single one of those, when
it
> does happen, illuminates the times and the people around it for
months
> and even years. A single conversation, by the way it is conducted
(even
> more than by its subject matter or its outcome), can have an
enormous
> impact on other conversations, subsequent to it, on utterly unrelated
topics.
The method I described in my previous note is and "Adaptation" from
the work of Plato and not an imitation per se. That is to say, we
analysed the work of Plato, and by adapting it to suit our needs, we
consult to our clients, and help them solve their problems. Perhaps I
did not make myself perfectly clear, but I did not mean to imply that
every interaction with clients (colleagues, bosses, subordinates,
spouses or children) should be compared with a "Platonic Dialogue".
That is certainly not the intention. The intention is to use some of the
Platonic wisdom in our everyday life to achieve a desired purpose. As
long as the desired purpose implies that someone must "buy-into" our
idea, the "Socratic Method" (as adapted - not imitated - from Plato)
works like a charm!
Another point. Upon embarking on a dialogue with a colleague,
spouse or client, we need not necessarily know the "truth". Hence, we
use the method to bring the others' assumptions into the open and
make them question their logical inference. Ultimately, the client (or
whoever) should conclude that he/she have found the answer and that
answer will satisfy both parties as being the "truth".
I suppose different people have different needs, and the Socratic
method should actually satisfy many of these needs in different
circumstances.
Larry
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E S K O M
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* Larry Perlov - Senior Engineer (Technology Strategy) *
- e-mail: D83884@TSP.Eskom.Co.Za *
* Phone: +27 11 800-4553 *
* Fax: +27 11 800-4807 *
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