Poetry, Stories, and Slides
Maieutic Stories and Poetry
Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy uses the maieutic method. This method refers to bringing out some latent knowledge that is inside you. It is a method to teach people what (in a sense) they already know, but don't know they know. The maieutic method assumes a certain level of innate knowledge and understanding, separate from experience. The maieutic method is different from the Socratic method. This Socratic debate (the elenctic way) is a form of a cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals. It is based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.
The maieutic method involves asking a series of questions that were considered by Socrates, a practice of "giving birth" to the truth, and a related word, maieutic, defined as "relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another. Maieutic comes from "maieutic," the Greek word for "of midwifery." In one of Plato's "Dialogues," Socrates applies "maieutic" to his method of bringing forth new ideas by reasoning and dialogue; he thought the technique analogous to those a midwife uses in delivering a baby. Tradition tells us that Socrates' mother was a midwife. In using the maieutic can be thought of as an intellectual midwife who assists the person in bringing forth ideas and conceptions previously latent in his or her mind.
Poetry
Maieutic Poetry sees being responsive is showing concern and caring about your opportunities so you can expand your possibilities confidently and ethically. This section will show you how to use the Socratic mode of inquiry, which aims to bring your hidden ideas into clear consciousness. You will examine poems, and then you can write what meaningfulness you found in each part of the poem. I will present a few short poems, and you will have an opportunity to see what I was thinking, and you can write your reactions.
Slides
I have presented slides that will challenge you to think about yourself, others, and the world differently. Viktor Frankl believes that love and understanding are ways to grasp another human being in the innermost core to become fully aware of the very essence.” (p.176, Man’s Search for Meaning). These slides provoke an awareness of your potentialities and help you to actualize those inner talents. Love and understanding are the recognition of your uniqueness and your intuitive understanding of another person’s potential as human beings. Frankl believes this is only possible when we share and communicate our ideas. As long as we can see each person as being unique, irreplaceable, we start to see each moment as being meaningful.
All Rights Reserved Arthur McKenna PHD.
All Rights Reserved Arthur McKenna PHD.