Socrates

The SOCRATES Framework

• S - Clarification Questions (What do you mean by...?)
• O - Origin Questions (Where did this idea come from?)
• C - Consequence Questions (What follows from this?)
• R - Role Reversal Questions (What if the opposite were true?)
• A - Assumption Questions (What are we taking for granted?)
• T - Truth/Evidence Questions (How do we know this is true?)
• E - Example/Counterexample Questions (Can you think of an example?)
• S - Synthesis Questions (How does this relate to...?)

Options

• question: The question or topic to explore (required)
• --from-path PATH: Path to a note containing context (e.g., Atlas/Essay - topic.md)
• --title TEXT: Custom output filename
• --save: Save output to vault (default: prints to terminal only)

Examples

# Basic usage - prints to terminal
python3 _scripts/socrates.py "What is the meaning of life?"

# With vault note context
python3 _scripts/socrates.py "AI safety" --from-path "Atlas/Essay - AI Ethics.md"

# Save to vault
python3 _scripts/socrates.py "The future of work" --save

# With custom title
python3 _scripts/socrates.py "Consciousness" --title "Exploring Consciousness" --save

Output

• Terminal: Markdown-formatted Socratic questions organized by SOCRATES framework
• Saved note: Atlas/Socratic Inquiry - [Topic].md with YAML frontmatter

Why This Matters

• Deepens understanding - Questions reveal layers of meaning you might miss
• Uncovers biases - Helps identify implicit assumptions and blind spots
• Encourages reflection - Promotes thoughtful, deliberate thinking
• Sparks creativity - New questions lead to new insights and perspectives
• Builds wisdom - The journey of questioning is as valuable as any answer