How did Socrates use questions to test people’s beliefs?

Socrates tested people’s beliefs through a form of logical argumentation known as the Socratic method, or elenchos. Rather than acting as a teacher, he presented himself as an "ignorant inquirer" who sought to understand concepts like piety, justice, or courage.12

His process typically followed this pattern:

• The Principal Question: Socrates would ask an interlocutor to define a core concept, such as "What is piety?"2
• Cross-Examination: Through a series of supplementary questions, Socrates would lead the individual to provide further premises or answers.2
• Revealing Contradictions: He would demonstrate that the interlocutor’s various answers were inconsistent with one another, effectively showing that the person lacked a clear grasp of the subject they claimed to understand.2
• Aporia: By the end of the conversation, the participants were often reduced to aporia—a state of puzzlement or impasse—which served to disabuse them of their false confidence and highlight the necessity of further philosophical reflection.21

Ultimately, Socrates used this method to challenge complacency and encourage the recognition of one's own ignorance, which he considered the beginning of human wisdom.231