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maieutic
[ mey-yoo-tik ]
adjective
- of or relating to the method used by Socrates of eliciting knowledge in the mind of a person by interrogation and insistence on close and logical reasoning.
maieutic
/ meɪˈjuːtɪk /
adjective
- philosophy of or relating to the Socratic method of eliciting knowledge by a series of questions and answers
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of maieutic1
Example Sentences
Maieutic, mā-ū′tik, adj. helping childbirth.—n. midwifery.
Therefore he called his method the "maieutic" or "obstetric" art.
These were embryonate in the womb of reason, coming to the birth, but needing the "maieutic" or "obstetric" art, that they might be brought forth.
Associated words: tocology, midwife, midwifery, parturient, maieutic, layette, obstetrics, obstetrician, celation, puerperal, accoucheur, accoucheuse, fetus, post-partum. childhood, n. nonage, infancy, minority, impuberty, pupilage. childish, a. puerile, juvenile, infantile, immature. childishness, n. juvenility, puerility, immaturity. children, n. offspring, progeny, issue, descendants, posterity. chill, n. chilliness, shiver, rigor. chilly, a. cool, chill, raw, bleak. chime, v. accord, agree, harmonize, be in unison. chime, n. unison, harmony; carillon. chimera, n. delusion, phantom, hallucination, illusion. chimney, n.
In the lowest subdivision, indeed, the word maieutic is a metaphor of another kind, fully explained in Plato's Theaetetus: the maieutic dialogues, however, were supposed to resemble giving the rudiments of the art; as the peirastic were, to represent a skirmish, or trial of proficiency; the endeietic were, it seems, likened to the exhibiting a specimen of skill; and the anatreptic, to presenting the spectacle of a thorough defeat, or sound drubbing.
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