Socratic pragmatics: Maieutic dialogues

Abstract

Dialogue theory, as a part of pragmatics (from Greekπρ́γματα, ‘acts’, ‘affairs’, ‘business’), can be traced back to Plato's theory of ideal philosophic communication, which again is reconstructable by means of interpretative conversation analysis of his dialogues. The process of δ∫αλέγεσθα∝ presents philosophy not as a formal and compact system, but as a communicative activity, where philosophic issues are discussed and validity is established in consensus on the basis of evidence and logical reasoning. One approach to the analysis of Platonic communication theory is based on the metaphoric description of Socrates' method of midwifery (maieutic, μα∫ευτ∫κὴτέχη). The dyad of the pregnant one and the midwife corresponds to the production of philosophic knowledge by argumentative dialogue, in and by which a thought is ‘brought out’. Being an exchange and interpretation of signs, Platonic dialectic can be regarded as a semiotic process. Furthermore, being dyadic and mutual, dialectic is a joint activity and (philosophic) communication.