Which methods did Socrates employ to challenge the prevailing thoughts of his time?

Thank you for your question ! S ocr ates was known for his method of question ing and dialog ue , which is now called the S ocr atic method . This method involved asking a series of questions to challenge the prev ail ing thoughts and belief s of his time , in order to encou rage critical thinking and expose the contradict ions and fla ws in those belief s . \n S ocr ates believed that knowledge could be acquired through self - ex am ination and question ing , rather than through the accept ance of dog ma or the teaching of others . He would often ask his inter loc utors a series of questions , such as " What do you mean by that ?" or " How do you know that ?" in order to challenge their assumptions and lead them to a deeper understanding of their own belief s . \n Some of the specific methods that S ocr ates employed to challenge the prev ail ing thoughts of his time include : \n 1 . El en chus : This is the Greek word for " ref ut ation " or " dis proof ." S ocr ates used the el en chus to challenge the belief s of others by asking a series of questions that would lead them to contradict themselves or their own belief s . \n 2 . Ma ie ut ics : This is the art of mid w if ery , or helping someone to give birth to their own ideas . S ocr ates used ma ie ut ics to help his inter loc utors to arrive at their own conclus ions , rather than simply impos ing his own belief s on them . \n 3 . Dia lect ics : This is the art of argument ation or debate . S ocr ates used dialect ics to eng age in a dialog ue with his inter loc utors , and to challenge their belief s through a series of questions and counter - questions . \n 4 . Iron y : S ocr ates often used ir ony to challenge the belief s of others by pointing out the contradict ions or abs urd ities in their arguments . \n It ' s important to note that S ocr ates ' methods were not meant to be confront ational or dis res pect ful , but rather to encou rage critical thinking and intellectual curiosity . He believed that by challeng ing the prev ail ing thoughts of his time , he could help to create a more just and equ itable society . </s>