Socratic Questioning

I recall being requested to do a blog post on this topic so I am doing one now.
"The Socratic Method (or Method of Elenchus or Socratic Debate), named after the Classical Greek philosopher Socrates, is a form of philosophical inquiry in which the questioner explores the implications of others' positions, to stimulate rational thinking and illuminate ideas."
-Wikipedia
That pretty much explains what Socratic Questioning is. If you want to find out the questions involved, I would suggest reading Recommended Reading 2.

Now, lets look at who is Socrates. Socrates was the ancient Greek thinker who laid the early foundations for Western philosophical thought. Socrates was famous for his method of argumentation. The Socratic method of argumentation begins with commonplace questions which lead the opponent to believe that the questioner is a simpleton, but ends in a complete reversal. It is a method not calculated to win friends, especially when used in public.
Socrates's contribution, then, was primarily the negative one of exposing fallacies, but equally important was the magnetism of his personality and the effect which he had on the people he met. It was his unique combination of dialectical skill and magnetic attractiveness to the youth of Athens which gave his opponents their opportunity to bring him to trial in 399 B.C.

I would try and find out more about him ad update this post. For now, please do take some time and go through some of the Recommended Readings. Number 1 is about Socratic Questioning, Number 2 as well. Number 3 is a biography of Socrate.

Recommended Reading: Recomended Reading 1
Recommended Reading 2
Recommended Reading 3
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method
http://www.answers.com/topic/socrates