Philosophical Influences I: The Socratic Method and Maieutics in Coaching

Philosophical Roots of Coaching

Coaching, as a discipline oriented to human development, does not emerge from nothing, but is nourished by various philosophical currents that have explored the nature of knowledge, learning and human potential over the centuries.

One of the oldest and most fundamental influences comes from classical Greek philosophy, in particular the method employed by a famous Athenian thinker to guide his disciples.

This approach laid an important foundation for the conversational and reflective methodology that characterizes modern coaching.

The Art of Asking to Learn

The core of the Socratic method lies in the idea that true learning comes not from receiving direct answers, but from a guided process of inquiry.

This philosopher helped his disciples learn primarily by asking them carefully formulated questions.

Instead of imparting knowledge dogmatically, he allowed them, through a series of questions, to find the answers within themselves.

The premise was that the individual already possessed, in some latent form, knowledge or truth, and the role of the teacher was to facilitate its discovery through reflective dialogue. He believed that the human being learned from the answers he himself generated.

Maieutics: Bringing forth one's own Ideas

This specific technique of facilitating discovery through questions is known as maieutics, a term that literally means "the art of assisting in childbirth."

The metaphor is powerful: the philosopher does not introduce new ideas, but rather helps the questioner to "give birth" to ideas and understandings that already reside within him.

This process was conceptually divided into two phases: irony, which consisted of leading the disciple to recognize his own ignorance or the need to examine his beliefs (the need to change), and maieutics proper, which was the technique of questioning to facilitate the person to change and find his own truths.

Maieutics in Coaching Practice Today

The influence of maieutics on contemporary coaching is especially notable.

The coach, similar to the ancient philosopher, directs the coachee primarily through questions.

These questions do not seek specific answers that the coach already knows, but are designed to help the coachee formulate his or her own key questions and find his or her own answers.

Through this maieutic dialogue, a process is facilitated where the client can get to know him/herself better, understand more clearly his/her desires and aspirations ("what we want to be in life"), and clarify his/her own blockages or contradictions.

This deep self-knowledge is considered a fundamental preliminary step before acquiring the skills or designing the necessary actions to achieve the desired goals.

Summary

Coaching is nourished by various philosophical currents, the oldest and most fundamental being the Socratic method. This is based on the idea that true learning comes from a guided process of inquiry.

Socrates helped his disciples to find answers within themselves by carefully formulated questions, without imparting knowledge directly.

The technique is called maieutics ("art of assisting in childbirth"), which helps the questioner to "give birth" to his or her own ideas. This influences today's coaching, which uses questions for self-knowledge.