The Triple Filter Test (Socrates)

[leftyandproud]

Triple Filter Test

In ancient Greece(469 - 399 BC), Socrates was well known for his
wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who
said excitedly: "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of
your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I'd
like you to pass a little test. It's called the _Triple Filter Test."

_"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued "Before you talk to me about my
student, it might be a good idea to take a moment and 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 and ...."

"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, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test
though, because there's one filter left: 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?"


This is why Socrates was such a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was banging his wife.

[NoPasaran]

1. LOL! Thanks!

It breaks the tension from GD2004

[leftyandproud]

2. late night BUMP! :)

[ComerPerro]

3. LOL

That's good

[leftyandproud]

4. day two bump

I want everyone to read this...I thought it was great ;)