Manual for Moderating a Socratic Design Dialogue
Preparation
- Secure a closed space where the group will not be disturbed.
- Arrange seats in a circle so everyone can see each other, with name tags on the ground.
- Ensure no one arrives late.
- Give equal attention to everyone entering, showing no preferences.
- Adopt an empathetic dominant stance as your foundational approach to the group.
Introduction
The moderator introduces the dialogue, emphasizing why we engage in conversation differently than usual. The strict discipline helps reduce thought addictions, enabling active listening and collective generation of new knowledge. If time allows, you can elaborate on the Socratic Design method.
Characteristics of the Dialogue
Every Socratic Design dialogue has several characteristics. It is like taking a walk through a forest with the group, staying together and collectively deciding which direction to take. Everyone sees different paths to explore, but we always take a step from where the previous person led us. We can never teleport the group to a different place in the forest suddenly.
Key characteristics include:
- No dumb questions or comments. No taboos.
- Use simple language. If complex terms or descriptions are used, explain them so everyone understands.
- No use of books or external knowledge. Rely on individual intelligence and experiences brought into the group.
- No performance pressure. We spend an hour thinking together, which is valuable in itself. We do not aim for a specific goal.
- Move slowly to avoid reproducing addictive thoughts. Slow pace ensures each contribution builds on the last.
- Primarily, you will be listening, which is different from most meetings and debates.
Rules of the Dialogue
To guide the dialogue effectively, we adhere to the following rules:
- You may only speak when given the floor, which can be requested by raising your hand. If not given the floor, let go of your intended contribution and resume listening. You may also be given the floor without raising your hand.
- When you get the floor, always repeat what was said before and then add your input.
- Every 15 minutes, someone may be asked to summarize what has been said and where we stand. This preserves collective knowledge.
The Moderator of the Dialogue
The dialogue has a moderator, someone philosophically trained. The moderator does not participate in the conversation, similar to a referee in football who follows the game without touching the ball. During the dialogue, the moderator allocates turns and reminds participants of the rules when necessary.
Choosing a Question
Let's begin. Everyone gets 2 minutes to think of a philosophical question. After 2 minutes, I will ask each of you to share your question.
- Does anyone prefer a particular question? It cannot be your own; you must choose someone else’s question.
- Can you elaborate on that?
- Who can support this question? Who agrees with addressing this question?
- Can you elaborate on that?
The moderator then proposes which question to address.
Choosing a Method
There are various methods to address the question:
- Sub-questions
- Definitions
- Personal cases
- Assumptions
Or any method you suggest, as long as it involves the group using arguments to answer the question.
The moderator takes in all methods and decides the order. You choose the starting method without asking the group for a preference. Keep other methods in reserve to use later if the dialogue loses momentum.
What Does a Moderator Do During the Dialogue?
Guiding the Group to Build on Each Other’s Knowledge:
- Listen and think as little as possible yourself. Follow the group's reasoning. As long as you can follow the dialogue as the moderator, things are going well. If you do not fully understand someone, ask, "Can you elaborate?"
- Be empty. Have no specific fears or desires about the dialogue. Don’t aim for a particular outcome or path for the group. Having desires limits your ability to act in the process.
- No disapproval or approval. Ensure a safe environment where everyone feels free to contribute.
Highlighting Interesting Points in the Dialogue:
- Frequently ask, "Can you elaborate?" especially when important philosophical themes are touched upon.
- If important points are missed in a summary, ask someone else if the summary is complete: "Is that correctly summarized?"
- Explore proposals for investigation. Always give room for suggestions such as, "Should we...?" or "Is it good to...?"
- When a new direction emerges in the dialogue, always ask, "Can you elaborate?" This highlights the new turn. A turn is often recognizable when someone disagrees or a new path is suggested.
- Discover layers and ask for clarification on the different layers.
Providing Structure for the Group:
- Keep the structure clear for everyone. If the dialogue stalls, switch to another method (an untreated case or “does anyone now have a case to bring up?” or from assumptions to definitions).
- Always move to a new person (C or D) after A and B have spoken, and never back to A.
- Refer back to earlier points: “We are working on… so can we return to that?”
- Manage speaking time. Give speaking assignments, e.g., “Can you summarize what they said?”
- If silence or doubt arises, point out what we have achieved and where we have come. Clear away doubts.
- Give clear instructions. Be mindful of your language, avoiding phrases like, “Can you briefly elaborate...”
Empathetic Dominance:
- Observe and monitor everyone’s energy. Remember that your energy is mimetically transferred to the group. Allow space for emotions, but they do not necessarily need to be addressed.
- Provide calmness. If someone struggles, say, “You can take a moment to think.” There is no rush.
Interruptions in the Dialogue
Your task as a moderator is to prevent any noise in the room. Remind participants of the dialogue rules, such as not speaking without the floor. Participants should not react quickly to each other or help someone struggling with words. Jokes are also disruptive.
Participants can request a time-out, for example, if someone needs to use the restroom or if things get too intense. The rest of the group should remain silent until everyone is ready to continue. You can also call a time-out for external disturbances, such as someone entering the room.
Concluding the Dialogue
- Ask someone, "Have we answered the question?" If yes, request a summary. If no, request a summary and identify what still needs to be discussed (possibly in another dialogue).
- Ask someone, "What knowledge has emerged here?"
More information
More information on conducting dialogues can be found in the book “On Dialogue” by David Bohm.