The Importance of Socratic Ignorance

The best way to change dogmatically held beliefs is to start with a skeptical attitude and ask questions, assuming you know nothing.

However, it is questionable how feasible it is to keep an attitude of Socratic ignorance on all matters. Even Socrates says, for instance, that he is sure that no real harm can befall a good man. He is equally confident that "the unexamined life is not worth living."

Socratic ignorance refers to a person's acknowledgment of their ignorance: "I know only one thing – that I know nothing."

It is also referred to as "Socratic wisdom."