How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. Part X: The secret of Socrates
Greetings friends.
First of all I want to tell you that I have already gone quite far in reading this fantastic book, and that it is leaving me a significant learning experience in the way I now perceive personal relationships and the way I deal with other people.
As part of this tenth part I want to share my own analysis about the secret of one of the greatest philosophers of antiquity as Socrates was.
Among so many important things in the historical legacy of this legendary philosopher is the capacity and ability that he had to persuade others, today it is a legacy and philosophical learning that is used and is a very useful tool to gain followers and new followers for a common good.
What is Socratic Philosophical Technique?
Basically and according to my perception the Socratic technique was simple and complex at the same time, since it combined psychology, cunning and an enormous capacity not to have to contradict the opinion of his adversary, but it was taking him to a field of dialogue and debate, where a number of well directed questions achieved in the other person a set of answers where most of them were affirmative answers (yes).
This technique is very useful because our opponent ends up agreeing with us without realizing it, and we who use the Socratic technique are left standing, since we have not become hostile or negative in the conversation.
The important thing about the technique is to know how to direct the conversation to a series of analytical questions in which our opponent ends up convincing himself that he is not right and that all the answers he gives us are a set of yeses that end up agreeing with us.
As long as we manage to get our adversary to say yes on multiple occasions, and if we start the conversation without having to discuss the points on which we have divergences with our adversary, then the most probable thing is that we will manage to agree and stand out on very relevant points on which there is only agreement, without realizing it we are immersed in the great secret of the great philosopher Socrates.
Tell me in the comments, have you ever used the great secret of Socrates and did not know it?
Yes, I fully share this philosophy. It is a very valuable strategy on a day-to-day basis, because as we know, it is not easy to achieve harmony in many of our conversations, especially if they are in groups. Sometimes it is necessary to maintain a correct position where you cannot agree to those who do not have it, but in that sense, this behavioral philosophy allows you to highlight your ideas without having to fall into discussions, measurement of forces or demonstrations that are sometimes uncomfortable.
Thank you for sharing your analysis and application of the Socratic secret and how important it is to apply it in dialogue with divergent opinions.
Hello @carlos84.
The truth is that I didn't know the Socratic technique, but in the mediation of the possible we look for the best solution for the conflicts and this has to do partly with the technique that you share with us. Thank you for your contribution
Hello @carlos84
The most gratifying thing, when reading a book is precisely to find in each line, interpretations, that add experience and learning of life. The analytical questions in a conversation are a necessary element to project our approach to a certain situation, however, it is necessary to have objective arguments, so that the person who accompanies us in the conversation, can respond in an affirmative way, validating our approach or point of view. I had no idea that this was a technique proposed or used by Socrates. Cordial greetings, thank you for this entry.