Socratic Design is both a philosophy and a method. It is applied to societal issues where innovation in thinking and action is desirable. Using this method, we analyze the narrative we live by, exploring how and why we internalize and perpetuate these narratives, even when they hinder a good human existence.

Socratic Design creates awareness of our beliefs about ourselves and our culture and teaches us to truly listen. This allows us to fundamentally rethink ourselves and our challenges, strengthening relationships and fostering an inclusive work culture. In short, it helps us improve our work for the people of Amsterdam and address the city's challenges more effectively. Are we doing things right? And are we doing the right things?

The method addresses three cognitive fallacies:

  1. We think we think: Often, we are not consciously thinking but repeating addictive thoughts. Thinking, feelings, and bodily reactions are one chemical process, connected to our dopamine system. Many of these are cultural thoughts, imparted by school and media, which we do not question. The strongest thought addictions act as armor—defense mechanisms formed in childhood to avoid painful experiences.

  2. We think we listen: We often believe we are good listeners, but in reality, we only take in what aligns with our thought addictions. This is called narcissistic listening. Emptying oneself and truly absorbing what another person says is a skill that can be practiced.

  3. We think we live in reality: We believe we live in reality, based on observable facts, but we also live within a narrative. Narratives are the worldviews and stories that shape our culture, values, thoughts, and actions. They are paradigms so deeply rooted that we no longer question them and sometimes believe there is no alternative. We call these unexamined philosophical assumptions presuppositions. By examining and replacing presuppositions, we can create a new narrative based on desired presuppositions.

Address the Fallacies:

Our current narratives have significant impacts on the earth and humanity. New narratives are necessary because we cannot solve our current problems with the same thinking that created these problems. The awareness of the impact of narratives and the fact that we shape them ourselves gives hope. It means that we can also create new, hopeful narratives about how to live well.

You can find a deeper exploration of the philosophy and method in the Socratic Design video series. If you want to learn more about the methods or are curious about how you can apply them within your relationships, team, or projects, you can find more information in the sections below. For questions, you can contact Dennis Wasch directly at d.wasch@amsterdam.nl.

 

 

Image credits

Icon image: Socratic Design | DALL-E generated image

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