> >Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour or >spread gossip. > >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?" >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 Diogenes was >shagging his wife.
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