Socratic questioning is a prompting technique based on the Socratic method of inquiry, which uses systematic questioning to explore ideas, uncover assumptions, analyze concepts, and guide critical thinking. In the context of AI, it involves asking a series of thoughtful, open-ended questions that lead the AI through a structured reasoning process rather than directly asking for answers.
Here’s a simple Socratic questioning example for exploring a concept:
Concept Exploration
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---provider: OpenAImodel: gpt-4otemperature: 0.5---# Socratic Exploration: {{ concept }}Let me guide our exploration of this concept through systematic questioning:## Initial Definition:What is meant by {{ concept }}? How would you define it in simple terms?## Core Assumptions:What assumptions underlie this concept? What must be true for this concept to make sense?## Evidence Examination:What evidence supports this concept? What evidence might challenge it?## Implications:What follows if this concept is valid? What are the logical consequences?## Alternative Perspectives:How might someone with a different viewpoint understand this concept?## Synthesis:Based on our examination, how might we now understand {{ concept }} more deeply?
Let’s create a more sophisticated example that uses Socratic questioning to guide complex problem-solving:
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---provider: OpenAImodel: gpt-4otemperature: 0.6---<step># Socratic Problem AnalysisLet's explore this problem through careful questioning:## The Problem:{{ problem_statement }}## Understanding the Problem:1. What are the key elements of this problem?2. What are we trying to determine or accomplish?3. What information is provided, and what information is missing?4. How will we know when we've reached a solution?## Initial Thoughts:Let me consider what approaches might be relevant to this problem...</step><step># Examining AssumptionsLet's question the assumptions underlying our approach:## Identified Assumptions:1. What assumptions am I making about this problem?2. Are there unstated assumptions in the problem statement itself?3. Which of these assumptions might be challenged?4. How would changing these assumptions affect our approach?## Refining Our Understanding:Based on examining these assumptions, I should revise my understanding as follows...</step><step># Exploring Alternative ApproachesLet's question our approach and consider alternatives:## Current Approach:The approach I'm considering is...## Questioning the Approach:1. Why might this approach work for this problem?2. What are the weaknesses or limitations of this approach?3. What alternative approaches could be considered?4. How do these approaches compare in terms of effectiveness and efficiency?## Selected Approach:After this examination, the most promising approach appears to be...</step><step># Working Through the SolutionLet me use Socratic questioning to work through the solution:## Solution Path:1. What is the first step in solving this problem?2. How does this step lead to the next?3. What obstacles might arise, and how can they be addressed?4. How can I verify that each step is correct?## Solution Development:Working through these questions systematically...</step># Evaluating the SolutionLet's critically examine our solution:## Solution Review:1. Does this solution fully address the original problem?2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this solution?3. How could this solution be improved?4. Under what conditions might this solution fail?## Final Solution:Based on this evaluation, my revised solution is:**Answer:****Confidence:****Key Insights:**
In this advanced example:
Progressive Inquiry: Questions build systematically from problem understanding to solution evaluation
Chain Processing: Each step deepens the inquiry through targeted questioning
Self-Reflection: The AI questions its own assumptions and approaches
Critical Evaluation: The solution undergoes rigorous examination before finalization
Use Socratic questioning to explore ethical dilemmas:
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---provider: OpenAImodel: gpt-4otemperature: 0.6---<step># Ethical Dilemma AnalysisLet's explore this ethical situation through Socratic questioning:## The Situation:{{ ethical_dilemma }}## Understanding the Dilemma:1. What are the key ethical considerations in this situation?2. Who are the stakeholders affected by this situation?3. What values or principles are potentially in conflict?4. What information would help us better understand the ethical implications?</step><step># Examining PerspectivesLet's question from multiple ethical frameworks:## Consequentialist Perspective:1. What are the potential outcomes of each possible action?2. Who benefits and who is harmed by each outcome?3. How do we weigh different types of benefits and harms?4. What unintended consequences might arise?## Deontological Perspective:1. What duties or obligations apply in this situation?2. Are there any absolute rules that should not be broken?3. What rights do the various parties have?4. What would happen if everyone acted this way?## Virtue Ethics Perspective:1. What would a virtuous person do in this situation?2. What character traits are being developed or diminished?3. How do intentions factor into the ethical evaluation?4. What does this situation reveal about our values?</step># Synthesizing Ethical InsightsLet's bring together our ethical exploration:## Areas of Agreement:What common ground exists between different ethical perspectives?## Key Tensions:What fundamental tensions remain unresolved?## Contextual Factors:How do specific contextual factors influence the ethical evaluation?## Ethical Conclusion:After this systematic questioning, my ethical assessment is:**Recommended Action:****Ethical Justification:****Remaining Concerns:****Conditions for Reassessment:**
Combine Socratic questioning with multiple perspectives for deeper exploration:
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---provider: OpenAImodel: gpt-4otemperature: 0.7type: agentagents: - agents/questioner - agents/responder - agents/critic---# Socratic Dialogue on: {{ topic }}This dialogue will explore {{ topic }} through a structured Socratic conversation between multiple agents.## Initial Problem Statement:{{ problem_statement }}## Dialogue Process:1. **Questioner**: Ask probing questions to explore the topic2. **Responder**: Provide tentative answers and explanations3. **Critic**: Evaluate the reasoning and suggest improvements4. **All**: Work together to reach deeper understandingBegin the Socratic dialogue to explore this topic thoroughly.
Create prompts that guide AI through self-reflective questioning:
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---provider: OpenAImodel: gpt-4otemperature: 0.6---# Socratic Self-Reflection Process## Initial Response:First, I'll provide my initial thoughts on: {{ topic }}My initial response is:## Self-Questioning:Now, I'll question my own thinking process:1. **Clarity Check**: What concepts in my response need better definition?2. **Evidence Examination**: What evidence supports my claims? What evidence contradicts them?3. **Assumption Identification**: What assumptions am I making that I haven't justified?4. **Perspective Analysis**: Whose perspectives might be missing from my analysis?5. **Logical Consistency**: Are there any contradictions or tensions in my reasoning?6. **Limitation Awareness**: What are the boundaries of my knowledge on this topic?## Revised Response:Based on this self-questioning process, I'll now provide a more nuanced response:## Meta-Reflection:Finally, I'll reflect on how this questioning process changed my thinking:
Implement layered questioning that progressively deepens inquiry:
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---provider: OpenAImodel: gpt-4otemperature: 0.7---<step># Primary Question Layer## Central Question:{{ central_question }}## Initial Response:Let me provide an initial response to this question...## First-Layer Questions:1. What are the key components of this question?2. What background knowledge is needed to address it?3. What approaches could be used to explore this question?</step><step># Secondary Question LayerFor each first-layer question, let me ask deeper follow-up questions:## On Key Components:1.1. Why is component X essential to this question?1.2. How do these components interact with each other?1.3. Are there hidden components not immediately apparent?## On Background Knowledge:2.1. How reliable is our current knowledge in this area?2.2. What knowledge gaps might affect our understanding?2.3. Where might existing knowledge contain biases or blindspots?## On Possible Approaches:3.1. What are the strengths and limitations of each approach?3.2. How might these approaches complement each other?3.3. What novel approaches haven't been considered?</step><step># Tertiary Question LayerLet me select the most promising threads and explore even deeper:## Deepening Thread 1:[Select most significant question from previous layer]- Why is this particular aspect critical?- What would fundamentally change if we viewed this differently?- How certain can we be about our understanding here?## Deepening Thread 2:[Select second most significant question]- What underlying principles are at work here?- How might this connect to other domains or concepts?- What paradoxes or tensions emerge at this level?## Synthesis Questions:- How do these deepening inquiries relate to our central question?- What new insights emerge from this layered questioning process?- What fundamental reconceptualization might be needed?</step><step># Integration and ResponseAfter this nested questioning process, let me synthesize what we've discovered:## Key Insights:- [Key insight 1]- [Key insight 2]- [Key insight 3]## Transformed Understanding:How our understanding of the central question has evolved...## Remaining Questions:What important questions still remain for further exploration...## Final Response:My comprehensive response to the central question, informed by this layered inquiry process:</step>