Socrates Triple Filter Test

[Ian]

I've just read this "little pearl of wisdom" & thought it maybe deserved to be shared

 

"Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour:

 

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

 

One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?"

 

"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."

 

'Triple filter?" asked the acquaintance.

 

"That's right," Socrates continued, "Before you talk to me about Diogenes 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 Diogenes something good?"

 

"No, on the contrary..."

 

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something about Diogenes that may be bad, 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 Diogenes 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 or anyone at all?"

 

[K9Fran]

Thanks for that Ian, your timing was impeccable. I'd just had 12 year old son in tears because (amongst other things) his 14 year old brother had been spreading stories about him in school.

 

I sat them both down and told them this story, and 14 year old has taken it on board and aplogised to his brother

[Ian]

Excellent, it's nice to know that it's actually been helpful to you practically (rather than just a thought provoking thing generally as I'd expected).