I just read Carl Van Doren's biography of Benjamin Franklin, one of the first incredible Americans. In the beginning the book discusses Franklin's self-education. Quite early Benny discovers the value of Socratic thought:
"Out of admiration for Socrates he gave up the disputatious habits he had formed, 'and put on the humble inquirer and doubter... I found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against whom I used it; therefore I took a delight in it, practised it continually, and grew very expert in drawing people, even of superior knowledge, into concessions the consequences out of which they could not extricate themselves, and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause always deserved.'" (16)
Socrates probably was forced to poison himself because of something like this! At any rate, my wife thinks I am a bit too "disputatious," so perhaps I should take a cue from my friend Ben Franklin and study up on this here Socratic method.
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