Socratic dialogue
Socratic dialogue
Led by Taco Huizinga,
certified Socratic dialogue facilitator
Magnus & Weiss aims to help clients develop sharper insights into legal and ethical challenges. In rapidly evolving sectors such as high tech and data, principled decision-making is essential.
We believe that the most complex legal and ethical questions require careful thinking, shared reflection and the courage to question assumptions. Taco Huizinga is a certified Socratic dialogue facilitator and is available to lead Socratic dialogues for organizations seeking deeper insight into fundamental issues.
For clients in the high-tech field, a Socratic dialogue may support:
Defining ethical principles for accepting assignments.
Reflecting on responsible AI development.
Establishing internal guidelines for negotiating and executing contracts.
Shaping sustainability or diversity policies.
Clarifying governance principles in innovation-driven environments.
What is a Socratic dialogue?
A Socratic dialogue is a structured conversation in which participants jointly reflect on a specific topic, starting from a concrete experience shared by one of the participants. What distinguishes a Socratic dialogue from an ordinary discussion is its disciplined focus on collective thinking. It is a genuine thinking conversation.
Participants temporarily suspend judgments and emotional reactions. By doing so, ingrained thought patterns, assumptions, and biases are set aside, creating space to access the often-unnoticed wisdom within the group.
Participants explore the issue through open, critical questioning. As the facilitator, Taco does not provide answers or solutions but guides the process by:
Encouraging careful listening
Asking clarifying and probing questions
Helping participants articulate underlying assumptions
Ensuring that judgments are postponed
Through this method, participants arrive at new and more fundamental insights themselves.
Experience the added value
Taco’s skills as a Socratic dialogue facilitator complement our legal expertise by creating a structured environment in which teams can think more clearly, question more deeply and arrive at well-founded principles that guide future action.
These dialogues can be conducted in both Dutch and English. If you would like to explore how a Socratic dialogue could benefit your organization, we would be pleased to discuss the possibilities with you.