dialegesthai

Dialegesthai (διαλέγεσθαι) is a Greek verb meaning to converse, discuss, or exchange words with someone. It is formed from elements meaning “through” and “to speak,” and in its middle voice emphasizes reciprocal engagement between participants rather than a one-way speech. In classical texts, the term denotes a collaborative communicative act rather than a mere monologue.

In philosophy, dialegesthai is closely associated with the Socratic and Platonic tradition of inquiry. In Plato’s dialogues, Socrates and his interlocutors engage in dialegesthai to examine beliefs, refine or redefine terms, and test propositions through question and answer. The method relies on careful questioning, careful attention to definitions, and often a process of elenchus (refutation) that iteratively brings participants toward clearer understanding.

Relation to dialectic: dialegesthai describes the practical practice of interactive discussion, while dialectic (dialektikē) refers to a broader method of reasoning and argument aimed at uncovering truth. The dialectical project is advanced through dialogic exchange, with dialegesthai functioning as the concrete, collaborative method by which interlocutors pursue knowledge.

Legacy and usage: The concept underpins the English word dialogue and has influenced discussions of the Socratic method in philosophy and pedagogy. In scholarship on ancient Greek thought, dialegesthai is used to distinguish the active, reciprocal form of inquiry that characterizes philosophical conversation from other, more unilateral forms of argument.