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Philosophy
Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either
hear or are about to repeat a rumour.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely
lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an
acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said,
"Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of
your students?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell
me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called
the Triple Filter Test."
"Triplefilter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk
to me about my student let's take a moment to filter
what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth.
Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about
to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know
if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of
Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my
student something good?"
"No, on the contrary ..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me
something bad about him, even though you're not
certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates
continued." You may still pass the test though,
because there is a third filter - the filter of
usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my
student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really ..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell
me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell
it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.
This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher
and held in such high esteem.
It also explains why he never found out that Plato
was shagging his wife.
hear or are about to repeat a rumour.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely
lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an
acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said,
"Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of
your students?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell
me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called
the Triple Filter Test."
"Triplefilter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk
to me about my student let's take a moment to filter
what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth.
Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about
to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know
if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of
Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my
student something good?"
"No, on the contrary ..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me
something bad about him, even though you're not
certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates
continued." You may still pass the test though,
because there is a third filter - the filter of
usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my
student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really ..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell
me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell
it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.
This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher
and held in such high esteem.
It also explains why he never found out that Plato
was shagging his wife.
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