Category: Let's talk
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"Well, 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 friend something good?"
"Umm, no, on the contrary…"
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about my friend, 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 friend 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?"
How convenient...
Considering that that idea completely goes against Socrates' philosophy, I have to doubt its factuality. However, because I believe it to be an annicdote, that isn't really all that important.
However, anicdote or not, it is completely absurd. If your neighbor were to come knocking on your door and say, "I've heard that there is a group of robbers in the area", then it doesn't pass the filter test. First, the neighbor does not know if its true, secondly it isn't good, and thirdly it isn't useful because it is too nonspecific to be of any use. However, your neighbor is still doing a kindness by telling you.
Basically the point of this childish little story is that you shouldn't say something unless you have something good to say. which is also childish and absurd. Sometimes, you need to hear something bad, and your not always going to like what you are told.
I think a better motto to live by is if your offended, deal with it and stop whining, not everyone cares about your feelings.
It may be a little wordy, and its hard to make cute little stories out of it, but I think its a good idea nonetheless.
well said, Cody.
Out of all of the dialogs involving Socrates, this is the one you decided to post? There are far more interesting and philosophical conversations worth discussion.
wow? erm......? okay? this is just funny? I read half of it and decided it was nonsense.