Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
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About

Not a lecture. A conversation. A catalyst.

The Socrates Approach

Socrates Seminars are collaborative, moderated dialogues built around carefully selected contemporary texts. Participants bring their own experiences and insights to the table — not as passive listeners, but as active thinkers, debaters, and questioners. Moderators guide the discussion with skill and curiosity, drawing out fresh perspectives and encouraging respectful, rigorous exchange.


This is learning the Aspen way: diverse voices, values-based reflection, and a belief that ideas — tested and challenged — can change the world.

What makes Socrates unique?

The Aspen Method: Rooted in the Aspen Institute’s tradition of moderated dialogue, Socrates champions civil discourse, intellectual humility, and cross-sector collaboration.

Optimized for Busy Professionals: Seminars are designed to strike the perfect balance — intellectually intense, refreshingly brief, and deeply immersive.

From Ideas to Action: The conversations that start at Socrates often spark new ventures and partnerships. Participants leave not just inspired but empowered.

A Global, Ever-Growing Network: With more than 10,000 alumni from across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, Socrates is more than a program — it’s a lifelong community.

Program History

The first groups of participants came from Silicon Valley when the internet was coming of age, and Socrates seminars continue to enable participants to explore current, pressing global challenges. Discussions are built around contemporary texts and are led by moderators who engage and encourage participants to share their views with a diverse group of peers.

Who We Are.

At a Socrates seminar a nonprofit CEO sits across the table from a venture capitalist, a university director, and a mayor. Each seminar represents diverse viewpoints – designed to leave participants with new perspective pressing, contemporary themes.

What We Do.

Skiers in Aspen

Flagship Winter and Summer Seminars in Aspen, CO

Drawing more than 180 leaders annually, every President’s Day weekend (February) and the first Friday following the end of the Aspen Ideas Festival the Socrates Program organizes 8 seminars (3 in the Winter; 5 in the summer) at the Aspen Institute’s Meadows campus in Aspen, CO.

Socrates Salons

Leveraging the geographic diversity of the Socrates Society, program staff work with alums and partner organizations like the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, New Orleans Business Alliance, and Hunter College (NYC) to bring one day seminars (Salons) to a handful of cities across the USA.

Inclusive Republic Summit Series

Focusing on small and medium-sized cities, this seminar series focuses on founding documents and letters from some of America’s great leaders to help civically-engaged leaders to engage in the same type of debates that our founders did in the first 20 years of our nation’s founding. Participants leave these one-day events with more questions about American history and respect for the diversity of the readings that expose the textured history of our 242 year old democratic Republic.

International Socrates Seminars

Each international seminar has on average participation from five countries, including US participants, who often help accelerate the dialogue in countries unfamiliar with Socratic dialogue. In each international location, our partners also provide a public event with the US-based moderator to expose more people to the topic.

Socrates Goes Digital

During the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the Socrates Program is worked hard to continue in our mission of providing high quality, thought-provoking, Socratic dialogue. View all of our digital seminars here.