Socratic Seminar: Bushido - The Way of The Warrior

Bushido is the traditional code of conduct and way of the samurai in feudal Japan. It was a set of ethical principles and virtues that emphasized martial spirit, self-discipline, and honor. The seven values of Bushido are:

1. Gi (honesty/integrity): It means to always be honest and truthful. Samurai were expected to be honest in their dealings with others and to be truthful in their actions and words. An example of this is the story of the 47 Ronin, who avenged their lord's death by killing his murderer but then committed seppuku (ritual suicide) to restore their honor, even though they knew it was illegal and would result in their own deaths.
2. Yu (courage): It means to have bravery in the face of adversity. Samurai were expected to have courage and to be willing to sacrifice themselves for their lord or their cause. An example of this is the Battle of Shiroyama, where the last samurai of Japan fought against modernized troops and died with honor rather than surrendering.
3. Jin (benevolence/compassion): It means to have empathy and kindness towards others. Samurai were expected to be compassionate towards the weak and the needy. An example of this is the story of Musashi Miyamoto, a legendary swordsman who spared the life of his opponent's son after defeating him in a duel.
4. Rei (respect): It means to show respect to others and to follow the proper etiquette. Samurai were expected to show respect to their elders, their superiors, and even their enemies. An example of this is the story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful daimyo who showed respect to a peasant who helped him cross a river during a battle.
5. Makoto (sincerity/honesty): It means to be true to one's word and to be genuine in one's actions. Samurai were expected to be sincere in their dealings with others and to keep their promises. An example of this is the story of Tsukahara Bokuden, a famous swordsman who refused to fight in a duel because he had promised his mother that he would never use his sword for personal gain.
6. Meiyo (honor): It means to have a sense of personal honor and to act accordingly. Samurai were expected to have a strong sense of honor and to do what was right, even if it was difficult or dangerous. An example of this is the story of Oishi Kuranosuke, the leader of the 47 Ronin, who refused to let his lord's death go unpunished and led his men in a risky and illegal revenge plot.
7. Chugi (loyalty): It means to be loyal to one's lord or master. Samurai were expected to be loyal and to serve their lord or master with unwavering devotion. An example of this is the story of Kusunoki Masashige, a loyalist who fought against the emperor's forces in defense of his own lord, even though he knew he would lose the battle.

A Socratic seminar is a great way to explore the Bushido code and discover deeper truths about the values it embodies. Here are some questions that can be used to facilitate such a discussion:

1. What does it mean to have rectitude? Can you think of a time when someone you know demonstrated rectitude? What made their behavior rectitudinous?
2. What is the relationship between courage and benevolence? How can one be both courageous and benevolent in a situation that requires difficult decisions?
3. In what ways does honor relate to loyalty? How do these two concepts work together to promote a strong sense of duty?
4. What is the role of respect in the Bushido code? How can we show respect for others, even when we disagree with them?
5. What is the relationship between honesty and sincerity? Can you think of a time when someone was honest with you but not sincere? What impact did that have on your relationship?
6. How does the pursuit of excellence relate to self-control? In what ways can self-control help us achieve excellence, and how can the pursuit of excellence help us develop greater self-control?
7. In what ways does the Bushido code reflect a sense of humility? How can humility help us become better leaders and better people overall?

By exploring these questions and engaging in a thoughtful discussion, we can gain a deeper understanding of the values embodied by the Bushido code and how they can be applied in our own lives.

The Socratic seminar is an effective discussion format that promotes critical thinking and fosters diverse perspectives. The following procedure outlines how to conduct a successful Socratic seminar:

Select a significant piece of text or collection of short texts related to the current focus of study. The chosen text should be rich with possibilities for diverse points of view. This could be an excerpt from a book, an article from a magazine, journal, or newspaper, a poem, a short story, or a personal memoir.

1. Develop an open-ended, provocative question as the starting point for the seminar discussion. The question should be designed to elicit differing perspectives and complex thinking. Participants may also generate questions to discuss.
2. Participants should prepare for the seminar by reading the chosen text actively, building their background knowledge for participation in the discussion. The pre-seminar task could incorporate work on reading strategies, such as text coding by underlining important information, putting question marks by segments they wonder about, and exclamation points next to parts that surprise them. Completion of the pre-seminar task is the participant’s “ticket” to participate in the seminar.
3. During the seminar, all participants should be involved and ensure that others in the group are drawn into the discussion.
4. The seminar leader begins the discussion with the open-ended question designed to provoke inquiry and diverse perspectives. Inner circle participants may choose to move to a different question if the group agrees, or the facilitator may pose follow-up questions.
5. The discussion proceeds until the seminar leader calls time. At that time, the group debriefs their process. If using a fishbowl, the outer circle members give their feedback sheets to the inner group participants.
6. If using a fishbowl, the seminar leader may allow participants in the outer circle to add comments or questions they thought of while the discussion was in progress.

The Socratic seminar is a powerful tool for encouraging critical thinking, deepening understanding, and promoting respectful dialogue. Following these steps can help ensure a successful and productive discussion.

The Bushido Bard is a term that could refer to a bard who embodies the principles of the Bushido code. A bard is a musician or poet who uses their artistic talents to inspire and entertain others. In the context of the Bushido code, a Bushido Bard would not only be skilled in their craft but would also live by the values of Bushido, such as honor, courage, and compassion.

To incorporate the Socratic seminar approach, one could pose questions to the Bushido Bard, or have the Bard pose questions to the audience, to explore the deeper truths and meanings behind their art and the principles of Bushido. Some potential questions could include:

• How do you use your art to embody the values of Bushido, such as courage and honor?
• What does it mean to you to be a Bushido Bard?
• Can you share an example of a song or poem that embodies the principles of Bushido?
• How does your art inspire and encourage others to live by the values of Bushido?
• How do you see the principles of Bushido reflected in other art forms, such as literature or film?

Through this Socratic seminar approach, the audience can gain a deeper understanding of how the principles of Bushido can be embodied in various forms of art and how they can be applied to everyday life. The Bushido Bard can also use this opportunity to reflect on their own craft and how they can continue to grow as both an artist and a practitioner of Bushido.