The Socratic method has two main parts. First, a question is asked about a difficult subject. Second, the answer is followed up with another question, and a dialogue follows. Socrates often asked difficult questions of people who were considered wise and competent, and when their answers were not satisfactory, Socrates asked more questions.

More generally, and without the questioner intending to make a fool of the person of whom he asks a question, the Socratic method is a way of teaching that involves an ongoing conversation about a subject between a teacher and student.