An Intellectual Superfood
SOCRATIC CARDS are deep, fun, questions that spark meaningful conversations. For evenings with friends, dorm room late nights, jump-starting meetings, or long sails. Or saving a dinner party.
Socratic questions are an intellectual superfood. They build essential leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills. The more you play, the better you get. And everybody loves them. Here are some of the best, right at your fingertips.
And when you are ready, use the Pro Edition to develop leaders in your organization.
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Standard Edition and Pro Edition—in poker-sized cards—shipping now. U.S. only.
Socratic Cards — Standard Edition
50 cards with Socratic questions.
$25 + free U.S. shipping
Socratic Cards — Signature Edition
50 cards with Socratic questions.
$25 + free U.S. shipping
Socratic Cards — Pro Edition
100 cards with Socratic questions and challenges.
$55 + free U.S. shipping
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Socratic questions?
Socratic questions are open-ended questions asked and discussed to explore complex ideas. They are a fun way to spark deep conversations.
What are Socratic Cards — Standard Edition?
Everyone loves good Socratic questions, but coming up with meaningful ones can be a challenge. Socratic Cards — Standard Edition has 50 poker sized cards, and 50 questions that matter.
All Socratic Card decks are structured around models of growth and purpose that align with John Wooden (as popularized by Ted Lasso), Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, and Charlie Munger's mental models. And Socrates, of course.
Developed in New England and printed in the USA.
Who are they for?
Socratic Cards — Standard Edition are designed for social gatherings with friends or family. Pack a few decks when heading off to school, to summer houses, or on ski trips. Perfect hostess gifts and stocking stuffers.
And they're even good for boring things like kicking off business meetings or for classroom discussions.
Is it a game?
It can be. Or an ice breaker. Or for shooting the breeze. Or for self-reflection. If you're playing Socratic Cards as a game, here are simple rules.
Simple game rules. Click to expand.
Between 1 and 8 participants. From 15 to 60 minutes.
- The Host selects and reads a question.
- Everyone takes a position (often by show of hands). Discuss—ask "why?" and question each other.
- Continue as long as there's energy. At the end, each participant can callout (award a point to) an insightful comment (the bon mot) from the conversation.
- Repeat for as many questions as you like.
What is the Pro Edition?
The Pro Edition is for developing leaders in organizations. The deck has 100 cards, adding 50 more high-energy Socratic questions (for a total of 100), 100 catalyst questions to consider real world uses of the ideas, and 100 real-world challenges. Socratic Cards — Pro Edition starts as a fun social game or icebreaker, and grows into a heroic journey of leadership, meaning, and mentors.
How? This five-minute video walks through the basics of the Pro Edition, with more examples of the cards in play, with co-designer Clark Aldrich: (Play Video).
And using any Socratic Cards deck develops active listening, critical thinking, empathy, and communication. The more you play, the better you get.
Who designed Socratic Cards?
Socratic Cards were designed by:
Clark Aldrich
Clark Aldrich is a global authority on experiential learning, with a specialty in developing leaders. He is the award-winning author of six books — including Unschooling Rules and Learning By Doing — and an award- and patent-winning designer of educational simulations and serious games.
Read Clark's full bio →Muffy Aldrich
Muffy Aldrich has been the editor of Salt Water New England since 2010. She can also be found on her Substack, and Instagram. She is a long-time editor of her husband's work.
