Mmmmm

[pete_b]

Now here's a thought . . .

The Three Filters of Socrates..

Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour or spread gossip.

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

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

"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 Plato 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 Plato something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something about Plato 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 Plato 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?"

The man was bewildered and ashamed.

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

It also explains why Socrates never found out that Plato was shagging his wife Xanthippe

[Guest]

LOL

SW

[ptwizz]

If the triple filter test were applied to TV scripts, we could get everything on 1 channel.