maieutics (2009-11-22)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [mey-'yu-tiks]

Definition: The Socratic method of teaching by helping someone articulate ideas already in their mind; intellectual midwifery.

Usage: Today's word essentially refers to a highly effective classical teaching method, one that specifically relies on teasing rationality from the mind of the student: "I think teaching me how to program the timer on my VCR is beyond the power of any maieutics." Do you know someone who answers questions with questions: "How are you?" "Why do you ask?" Try something like this as a cure, "I don't need maieutics for a simple greeting, Griselda." No, they will answer that with a question, too: "Huh?"

Suggested Usage: Today's voweliferous word denotes an approach to teaching that has survived for 2500 years. Socrates believed that all humans innately possess the concepts necessary for understanding the world. Some people seem to understand it better than others because they are better at organizing those ideas or have had someone to help them "deliver" or raise those concepts to consciousness. Socrates did not give answers; rather, he asked carefully articulated questions that led his students, step by step, to logical conclusions. Socratic teachers do not deliver ideas to students but from them, teaching them in the process to think, to organize and focus the murky, innate ideas already within themselves. The adjective is "maieutic."

Etymology: Greek maieutikos "midwifery" from maieuesthai "to act as midwife, help in delivery" based on maia "respected mother, midwife." The Greek term shares the same origin with "mama" (see "mother" in our Word of the Day archives) and was used as a term of respect when addressing older women.