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You can't just go around recognizing what people don't understand. That's what got Socrates killed. You've gotta make them understand what they don't understand without making them want to kill you. That's what makes a great teacher / leader / etc.



I have found the Socratic Method[0] brings out the best outcomes because it forces everyone to show what they think they know, have their assumptions tested and hear about things they might not have considered or even know about. From my experience, everyone is ultimately able to reach a higher level of understanding for the topic or problem which allows for better decision making. The more diverse the participants' backgrounds the larger the network of knowledge one is able to tap into.

Unfortunately, you are right that there are people who are extremely threatened by the Socratic Method. In Plato's Cave[1], Socrates talks about how some people strive to explore and learn while others have no desire to broaden their knowledge as "they know no better life."

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave


> You've gotta make them understand what they don't understand without making them want to kill you

That's a different problem. You need to tell them what you want, unless it's a mathematical, universal truth.


I find it sort of weird that your criteria here would mean that Socrates was not a great teacher.


I'm not saying that exactly. I'm just saying you're better off if you don't get killed by the people you're trying to persuade.


Requirements or the asks need to be clealy documented before someone goes for a solution. The problem usually is they discover more use case while reasearching the solution.




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