Socrates In Plato's early dialogues, Socrates uses the elenctic method to investigate the nature or definition of ethical concepts such as justice or virtue. Elenctic refutation depends on a dichotomous thesis, one that may be divided into exactly two mutually exclusive parts, only one of which may be true. Then Socrates goes on to demonstrate the contrary of the commonly accepted part using the law of non-contradiction. According to Gregory Vlastos,Gregory Vlastos, 'The Socratic Elenchus', Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy I, Oxford 1983, 27–58. the method has the following steps: Socrates' interlocutor asserts a thesis, for example, "Courage is endurance of the soul", which Socrates considers false and targets for refutation. Socrates secures his interlocutor's agreement to further premises, for example, "Courage is a fine thing" and "Ignorant endurance is not a fine thing". Socrates then argues, and the interlocutor agrees, that these further premises imply the contrary of the original thesis, in this case, it leads to: "courage is not endurance of the soul". Socrates then claims that he has shown that his interlocutor's thesis is false and that its negation is true.
Socrates In Plato's early dialogues Socrates uses the elenctic method to investigate the nature or definition of ethical concepts such as justice or virtue Elenctic refutation depends on a dichotomous thesis one that may be divided into exactly two mutually exclusive parts only one of which may be true Then Socrates goes on to demonstrate the contrary of the commonly accepted part using the law of non-contradiction According to Gregory VlastosGregory Vlastos 'The Socratic Elenchus' Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy I Oxford 1983 27–58 the method has the following steps Socrates' interlocutor asserts a thesis for example "Courage is endurance of the soul" which Socrates considers false and targets for refutation Socrates secures his interlocutor's agreement to further premises for example "Courage is a fine thing" and "Ignorant endurance is not a fine thing" Socrates then argues and the interlocutor agrees that these further premises imply the contrary of the original thesis in this case it leads to "courage is not endurance of the soul" Socrates then claims that he has shown that his interlocutor's thesis is false and that its negation is true