maieutic

[mey-yoo-tik]

adjective

1. of or relating to the method used by Socrates of eliciting knowledge in the mind of a person by interrogation and insistence on close and logical reasoning.

maieutic

/ meɪˈjuːtɪk /

adjective

1. philosophy of or relating to the Socratic method of eliciting knowledge by a series of questions and answers

Word History and Origins

Origin of maieutic¹

1645–55; < Greek maieutikós of, pertaining to midwifery, equivalent to maieú ( esthai ) to serve as a midwife (akin to maîa midwife) + -tikos -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of maieutic¹

C17: from Greek maieutikos relating to midwifery (used figuratively by Socrates), from maia midwife

Example Sentences

Maieutic, mā-ū′tik, adj. helping childbirth.—n. midwifery.

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Therefore he called his method the "maieutic" or "obstetric" art.

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These were embryonate in the womb of reason, coming to the birth, but needing the "maieutic" or "obstetric" art, that they might be brought forth.

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Associated words: tocology, midwife, midwifery, parturient, maieutic, layette, obstetrics, obstetrician, celation, puerperal, accoucheur, accoucheuse, fetus, post-partum. childhood, n. nonage, infancy, minority, impuberty, pupilage. childish, a. puerile, juvenile, infantile, immature. childishness, n. juvenility, puerility, immaturity. children, n. offspring, progeny, issue, descendants, posterity. chill, n. chilliness, shiver, rigor. chilly, a. cool, chill, raw, bleak. chime, v. accord, agree, harmonize, be in unison. chime, n. unison, harmony; carillon. chimera, n. delusion, phantom, hallucination, illusion. chimney, n.

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Dialogues Diadectic Speculative Physical Logical Practical Ethical Political Inquisitive Gymnastic Maieutic Peirastic Agonistic Endeietic Anatreptic The learned reader will observe the latter half of the dialogues, according to this scheme, to be described by metaphors taken from the gymnastic art: the dialogues, here termed gymnastic, being imagined to bear a similitude to that exercise; the agonistic, to the combat.

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