Formalizing the Dialectic of Platonic Socrates: A Computational Framework for Critical Thinking and Coherent Morality

This paper presents a formalized model of the Platonic Socrates’ dialectic with the goal of enhancing critical thinking and fostering coherent moral reasoning through computational means. Drawing on an interdisciplinary framework that integrates classical philosophy and computer science, we define critical thinking as the structured process of identifying, evaluating, and revising beliefs to achieve logical consistency. We posit that the dialectic of the Platonic Socrates provides a systematic methodology for this process by encouraging the examination of Theses through universally valid and logically coherent supporting Hypotheses. The core contribution of this work is the multi-layered formalization of the dialectical method across three technical dimensions: (1) a Unified Modeling Language (UML) use case and activity diagrams representing the functional roles and interactions within Socratic dialogue; (2) algorithmic procedures that codify the sequential logic of dialectical questioning and Thesis vali-dation; and (3) a Prolog-based logic programming implementation that operationalizes the rules of universal validity and coherence among Hypotheses and between Hypotheses and Thesis. These representations establish a rigorous foundation for implementing a Platonic Socratic conversational agent, capable of guiding users through structured, reflective dialogue. The formal models bridge ancient dialectical logic and contemporary informatics, opening new avenues for ethical AI, critical thinking education, and human-machine interaction rooted in philosophical reasoning.