An example of Socratic questioning
In Book I of The Republic (37), the Sophist Thrasymachus claims that ‘justice is the
advantage of the stronger’. Socrates questions him about this. Here is a simplified
version of their dialogue.
Socrates: Do you think it is just to obey all laws?
Thrasymachus: Yes. Laws are made by the stronger for their advantage so it
is just to obey all laws.
Socrates: Does a ruler sometimes make mistakes when making laws?
Thrasymachus: Yes. Sometimes he may make a law that is not to his
advantage.
Socrates: Because it is just to obey all laws, is it therefore sometimes
just to obey laws that are not to the advantage of the ruler?
Thrasymachus: Yes.