Socratic method

Socrates’ method, sometimes called the Elenchus, aims to reveal the cognitive health of his interlocutors. After answering a range of questions, typically concerning ethical concepts, the interlocutor is supposed to come to the conclusion either that his beliefs are consistent with one another, meaning that he is cognitively healthy, or that they are not, meaning that there is some cognitive dissonance and disease.

Let’s try this out on Americans, particularly those who were recently polled.

A recent AP/Ipsos poll registers Bush at a 70% disapproval rating for his handling of the economy.

Yesterday, just in time for paying one’s taxes, McCain outlined his economic policy in a speech (text here) at Carnegie Mellon. He advocates making permanent Bush’s tax cuts, as well as a whole host of other tax cuts, free (really?) trade, and ‘reforming and protecting’ of Medicare and Social Security (I’m scared to know what ‘reform and protect’ means; perhaps something like ‘to destroy in order to make better’). In other words, as many have pointed out, he is more or less like Bush with respect to handling the economy.

Putting those two together, the consistent position would be that McCain’s numbers on the economy should be fairly low.

However, yesterday Reuters/Zogby released its poll. The relevant question was whether McCain, Clinton or Obama would be a better steward of the economy. The results: McCain led, 3pts over Obama and 5 over Clinton.

At this point, Socrates would expect his interlocutor, recognizing the disease of his mind, to alter one of his beliefs, given that they are in tension with one another. Can we expect Americans, who are evidently blinded by McCain’s reputation as a straight shooter, to be as rational?