elenctic

Elenctic is an adjective referring to the elenchus, a method of critical questioning and refutation associated with Socrates. The term derives from the Greek elenkhē or elenkhos, meaning a testing, cross-examination, or refutation. In philosophy, elenctic methods involve a sequence of questions designed to challenge a claimed definition or belief, with the aim of exposing contradictions, inadequacies, or gaps in reasoning.

Historically, elenctic questioning is a hallmark of the Socratic method as portrayed in the Platonic dialogues. Through careful interrogation, Socrates would probe definitions of virtues, knowledge, or other concepts, often leading his interlocutors to realize that their confident assertions rested on shaky or inconsistent grounds. The outcome is frequently aporia, a moment of puzzlement that invites deeper inquiry rather than immediate agreement.

The elenchus is not primarily a persuasive rhetorical tactic but a diagnostic tool for philosophical clarity. Its practice emphasizes form (questioning structure and logical consistency) over content, encouraging continual refinement of beliefs and definitions. While closely associated with classical Greek philosophy, the term elenctic is also used more broadly to describe modern interrogative or refutational approaches in philosophy and education that seek to reveal the limits of confident claims through systematic questioning.

In contemporary usage, elenctic methods appear in discussions of critical thinking, epistemology, and pedagogy, where guided questioning aims to illuminate what can be known and to challenge unsupported assumptions.