Socratic irony

American  

[suh-krat-ik ahy-ruh-nee, ahyer-, soh-] / səˈkræt ɪk ˈaɪ rə ni, ˈaɪər-, soʊ- /

noun

1. pretended ignorance in discussion.

---

Socratic irony British  

noun

1. philosophy a means by which the pretended ignorance of a skilful questioner leads the person answering to expose his own ignorance

---

Etymology

Origin of Socratic irony

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Or maybe it was a different problem: In classic Socratic irony, there has to be somebody who doesn’t get the joke, and I had a sneaking suspicion it might be me.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2017

The sophists using the Socratic irony are pronounced happy because of the mass and volume of their words; others play upon words.

From Education in England in the Middle Ages Thesis Approved for the Degree of Doctor of Science in the University of London by Parry, Albert William

Many of these, with a sort of Socratic irony, gave themselves ludicrous names, or names expressive of ignorance.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

By a method of quiet cross-examination, the "Socratic irony," he made them aware of their lack of clear ideas and tenable, consistent opinions, and endeavored to guide them aright.

From Outline of Universal History by Fisher, George Park

That is, Carlyle uses irony in the common English sense; the Socratic irony, the irony of the "Modest Proposal."

From A History of English Romanticism in the Nineteenth Century by Beers, Henry A. (Henry Augustin)