ABSTRACT
Derived from the conversations of classical Greek philosopher Socrates, the Socratic Method is one of the most widely used approaches to teaching. The Socratic Method encompasses not merely a set of rhetorical techniques, but, more importantly, the goal of "turning" the entire soul toward what Socrates calls "the Good." The chapter considers the three depth critiques of the Socratic Method as culturally imperialistic: the "linguistic imperialism" critique, the "normative imperialism" critique, and the "philosophic imperialism" critique. The first critique maintains that the Socratic Method is culturally imperialistic because it typically takes place within one language and therefore privileges certain participants and a particular framework of thought. The second critique argues that as a mode of education that values critical thinking and the input of students, the Socratic Method implicitly devalues the norm of respect for tradition and authority figures embraced in other cultures' educational approaches, such as in the Confucian tradition.
