Socratic Seminars

Socrates seminars are text-based (maximum 50 pages per half day session) and engage the Socratic method to provide a common context for a disciplined group discussion.  An expert moderator facilitates the exploration of the seminar topic among the participants and does not lecture.

The seminar conversations are small (up to 20 participants), and private, so that participants feel free to explore morally challenging issues without risk of quotations out of context or publication. The conversation belongs to the participants. The moderators' questions provide a starting point, and participants can pose new ideas and questions that are relevant to the topic under consideration. It is up to the moderator to strike the right balance between the texts and more free flowing conversation. The Socrates values based dialogue provides no right or wrong answers, it is intended to facilitate the exploration of diverse thought.