The Socratic Method is a form of teaching or arguing that is executed by asking leading questions to someone rather than just stating a conclusion or opinion outright. The broad goal of the Socratic Method is to ultimately have the person who is being asked the questions personally figure out, disagree with, or agree with whatever it is that is being debated by themselves. Such a method, which is adopted by Socrates in The Republic, …showed first 75 words of 983 total…

…showed last 75 words of 983 total…questions from his counterpart that is answering them. Thus, the circumstance that can occur that may result in the Socratic Method being flawed is a case when the counterpart who is answering the questions Socrates has simply does not have an answer for them. When such a situation arises the cycle of the refinement of ideas that the Socratic Method seems to accomplish comes to a halt and cannot continue until an answer is given.