Elenchus

Elenchus is a term from ancient Greek philosophy referring to a method of questioning designed to test the truth or coherence of a claim by refuting it or exposing contradictions. The word derives from the Greek ἔλεγχος, meaning cross-examination or refutation.

Traditionally associated with Socrates as depicted in Plato’s early dialogues and in Xenophon, elenchus involves a questioner who presents a candidate definition or thesis and then asks a sequence of focused questions about it. Each answer is intended to bear on the original claim, but the replies often reveal inconsistencies or gaps, leading to a state of aporia, or philosophical puzzlement. The aim is epistemic clarification rather than victory in debate: through refutation or revision, the interlocutor may attain a clearer, more defensible understanding.

Elenchus is often described as part of a broader dialectical practice. It is sometimes distinguished from maieutic, or midwifery, by emphasis: maieutic refers to drawing out knowledge, while elenchus emphasizes testing and refutation that can precipitate a revised or abandoned belief. In Platonic dialogues, the elenchus functions as a means to move from accepted opinions toward more rigorous definitions and, ideally, secure knowledge.

Scholars continue to discuss its status and reliability as a universal method of inquiry. Critics note potential drawbacks, such as the adversarial nature of questioning, dependence on the interlocutor’s cooperation, and reliance on a shared standard of definition. Nonetheless, elenchus remains a foundational concept in the study of the Socratic method and has influenced later theories of critical thinking, argumentation, and educational dialogue.