> The Test of Three > In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his > wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who 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 Test of Three." > "Test of Three?" > "That's correct," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my > student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first > test is Truth. Are you absolutely sure that what you are about to tell > me is true?" > "No," the man replied, "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 test, the test 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 > even though you're not certain it's true?" > The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. > Socrates continued, "You may still pass though because there is a third > test - 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?" > The man was defeated and ashamed and said no more. This is the reason > Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
