Socrates

[davidfcooper]

A lesson in philosophy

Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either
hear or are about to repeat a rumor.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely
known and lauded for his wisdom. One day the great
philosopher came upon an acquaintance that 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."
"Triple filter?"
"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
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 a re 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 re ally..."
" 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?"
Deferring to the awesome wisdom of the sage, the man,
defeated and ashamed, said nothing and walked away
quietly.
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 banging his wife.