Socratic Exercises for Mind and Soul

Practices for Self-Awareness, Critical Thinking, and Love

Socrates graffiti on a New York billboard. Prompt: on a billboard downtown New York is intricate but simple graffiti art of philosopher Socrates in vivid colors.

Let us make an attempt to learn how to live a little better from — according to many — one of the wisest people whoever lived. Socrates was a fascinating character and it is clearly in our interest to understand what makes him special (*Taylor*).

Socrates was both a spiritual thinker and a rationalist: a person’s primary duty is improving the soul, and that begins with understanding oneself and one’s actions as objectively as possible. We are here primarily to learn, to live truthfully and to be able to give an account of our ideas, feelings, and actions at all times.

Socratic ethics is based on knowledge: Virtue is identical with knowledge, and evil — in all cases — is a form of ignorance, an intellectual error. Thus, doing wrong is always involuntary, a result of a faulty idea. This made Socrates believe that humans are primarily good; he loved humans unconditionally, even when they sent him to his death: they are not evil, they just don’t know.

Socratic idea of common knowledge implies that all members of our species have access to knowledge that will lead us to our best selves. There is always room for learning about the world and about myself; knowledge is unlimited, thus what I think I know is at best incomplete, and can very well be completely false.

We can then appreciate Socrates as an *annoying muse of inspiration, with the mission to lead people to know themselves better and to better their souls*, and understand that the two are really the same.

Socratic Practices

So then, how do I put these ideas into practice before the inspiration fades away? Here are five Socrates-inspired practices that I find useful for myself. I like to think that Socrates would approve of each of them, but I cannot be sure.

Everyone is different and we need to develop our own ways. Find your own Socratic inspiration to turn into a practice and please share with us in the comments, to help all of us to embody Socratic values a bit more.

one: Question your own knowledge regularly

Why? Knowing what you don’t know is the first step towards any kind of true (or better) knowledge and wisdom. This isn’t just a practice of humility, it is a practice to see the gaps in our understanding of the world and ourselves so that we are better informed to take action to mitigate them. We cannot be masters of knowledge, but can always be happy being its students.

**How? **Think of an area in your life in which you think you know a lot, and could still benefit from a more nuanced and self-critical point of view.

Explore and acknowledge the limits of your knowledge in this area. What else is still there to know? What are some important, exciting but unanswered questions? What is something in this area or in similar ones that you would like to learn more about?

Researchers are trained to ask these questions regularly and naturally, but even they can fall short if they do not have this questioning as a regular and intended practice.

Socrates always brings the conversation to a point where no party knows the truth, holds that space of ignorance, and invites a common investigation from that position. He is also always cooperative with his dialogue partners and treats them as allies, not as rivals or adversaries. This breeds curiosity instead of self-attack in the face of uncertainty.

Then, if you had a dialogue of your own with Socrates, which potential questions you have identified above would you want to explore with him?

The key gesture, and the point of the exercise, is not to know, but to face not knowing constructively: Socrates’ goal is never to blame or shame; it is to point out contradictions in thought and learn from them: not to judge but to learn as much as possible from the situation.

Think of yourself (like the Stoics) as an engineer or manager who assesses the situation, rather than passes judgment on yourself or others. The goal is to develop the vantage point in which no one, least of all myself, is to be blamed. Take caution for forms of self-attack: the point is to learn, not to get crushed under self-critique.

Which areas of improvement does this exercise highlight for you?

If you like, also add your intentions, how you would like to improve yourself in this area. Determine your next, small step to begin. Repeat the exercise to explore other fields you care about.

The Socratic exercise should — I believe — also call for a practice of celebrating what we know, what remains to us after we admit our ignorance. This also facilitates accepting and understanding our shortcomings. Remember what you know and how much you have already accomplished to give yourself appreciation for these, a gentle pat on the back.

two: Question ideas showing up as identities

Why? Socrates had the utmost respect for the people he engaged with in the dialogues, yet showed no respect at all for their ideas. It is a fascinating position to hold in a dialogue since people (meaning we all) have a strong tendency to conflate the two. Sometimes (or, often?) I may take offense when certain ideas I hold to be true are questioned with conviction.

We would benefit from being more mindful of ideas that show themselves as identities. Being bound to ideas with too much certainty may lead to stagnant knowledge and rigid identities, which tend to perpetuate our current state rather than help us grow naturally.

*How? *Think about a time that you felt offended due to someone confronting you with disagreement over an idea.

Why was it difficult for you to hear the criticism?

We sometimes get offended from an objection to our ideas when the criticism, even if misguided in its argument, still points to a weakness in our position, in the idea or the way we are holding it.

Instead of defending your position, try to pause and find something that you can learn from the objection you received. What sort of gaps in my knowledge is the critique exploiting? It is a good idea to look back and this time take the critique not as personal assault but as a gift, that is, to find the constructive criticism in it.

three: Watch for and notice your preoccupation with others

Why? Because our relationships, especially conflicts, give us great opportunities to spot our own areas of improvement, as we act as mirrors to each other.

I do not see my own face, but I see yours. And you do not see your own face, but see mine.

— Rumi, Masnavi, verse 883

How? Learn to catch yourself in action when you find yourself thinking about some other or others a bit too much. Remember to turn your gaze and intention inwards when you notice this.

If the association is negative, say, feelings of anger or some other sorrow, then, ask yourself what is truly bothering you about this person. Then, leave them to their own and ask questions to yourself:

What is it about me, and me alone, that is causing me to be affected the way I am, rather than more gently?

Emotions are complicated and we do not pretend to be psychiatrists (so, why is often a difficult question to ask to emotions), but we can still inquire difficult feelings by asking good questions: Do I have an unrealistic expectation from the other? What needs do I have that are coming to surface with this anger response? Focusing on [one’s needs in relation to difficult emotions](http://Nonviolent Communication (Rosenberg, 1999).) is an especially powerful practice to hold them better.

four: Practice love

Why? Because happiness is — first and foremost ,— love.

How? Make it a regular practice to name the people and things you love in your life as part of your gratitude practice.

five: Practice more love

The flowering branch of the plum gives its scent to him who broke it off

— Chiyo-ni (1703–1775)

Socrates’ universal love reminds me of this famous haiku by master Chiyo-ni. His happiness and tranquillity of soul must somehow relate to his unconditional love for humans, one that does not feel anger toward those sending him to his death, and can go on loving them nonetheless: they are not evil, only ignorant; they do not know, yet they think they do.

How big is your love, then? Also, how big is your love?

Can you really love the whole of humanity as Socrates did? I know very few who can. Chiyo-ni may indeed be one. *Nazım Hikmet* is definitely another Socratic in his undying positivity, his relentless affirmation of life, and his deep love for the country and compatriots who exiled him.

Can you think of a person who you think practiced love more than anything else? Who is a Socratic that you notice?

Then ask yourself,

What aspects of this person do you admire most? Which of their qualities would you intend to embody more for yourself? Good news: You can, as you already began by noticing these qualities in them.

If Socrates inspires you to come up with specific practices to try, please share them in the comments to inspire us all.

Also see:

• Socrates and Alcibiades: on Self-Work, Vulnerability and Responsibility
• How the Socratic Method Can Help You Break the Modern Echo Chamber
• Taylor’s Socrates
• Working on the Self: Intersections in Philosophy and Literature

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