There is an issue related to knowledge development: how to evaluate the knowledge owned by people.
In ancient China, Imperial Selection (科举) was used to select people with some talents. It was started in Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), initially with recommendation, then relying more and more on examinations later. Examinations should be blackbox tests ideally, in which the grades are made only based on the answers.
Examinations are also used in university admission. In 1970's, recommendation was resumed in university admission in China in a short period (工农兵学员). Then it has been switched back mainly to examinaitions up to now.
Both recommendation and examination are not good enough to evaluate scientific researches. Socratic method promotes open discussion fairly and honestly. When you want to question others' points, raise the questions face to face so the other parties would have a chance to answer. It should be a fair play. Thesis defence is similar to Socratic method.
However, Socratic method is vulnerable to sophism. Sophism could make fair and honest discussion impossible. Socrates was even voted to death.
Very few people could resist against sophism and keep away from it. Those who really can could benefit from sciences.
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