Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Triple Filter Test...

     In ancient Greece , Socrates (469 - 399 BC) 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 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.  Are you absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true? "

     " No ", the man said, " Actually I just heard about it and..."

     " Alright ", 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 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 if 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  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.

     This is the reason why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

     Next time someone starts to spread gossip, think of this !  ;)

23 comments:

  1. Oh gosh! I feel so embarrassed now. I shall keep these three filters in mind before I listened to or spread any rumours. It's gonna be really hard to be like Socrates.

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  2. Another WISE story! SO TRUE! I always look forward to your stories!

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  3. @ LiLing :
    Hey LiLing , just relax ! :) don't feel so embarrassed ! Its human tendency...so its really hard to be like Socrates but we can try to be like him by following these simple rules :)

    You're the first commentator of this post !
    thank you so much for your visit :)

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  4. @ Jill Wellington :

    Hello Ms Jill, your visit n comment always make my day ! :) You inspire me a lot..so nice of you !

    thank you so much :)

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  5. I think this triple filter test works if we apply it.

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  6. @ Pratibha :

    definitely Pratibha, we can try to follow these simple rules :)
    thank you for visit and sharing your view ! :)
    keep coming .

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  7. The filters are so useful if we could put it into practice. Only then, we could prevent ourselves from damaging someone's image. But as humans, we're not free of flaws. However, the filters can be referred to as guidelines, so less "harm" done to others. It's like think before we act.

    Thank you for sharing. :)

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  8. thank you Balqis for sharing your view :)
    keep visiting !

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  9. Another great one and wiser one as well,Thank u for such stories

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  10. Thank you Shatru :)
    hv a wonderful time ...
    keep coming ! :)

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  11. Dear, it had been a while..

    Yeah, had just celebrated Lunar New Year and previously was busy with my grandpa's op..

    Anyway, I like this post of yours.. It is great help in what I set for myself in this Lunar New Year (Year of Rabbit).. Certainly, this post shall be the strength and encourage me to keep it going should I fall..

    Oh yes, I am here to tell you that I will be updating my Poetry blog through Tingtasy.com instead of Intinglligent.. So yeah, just in case, you are interested in my simple poetry write, you know where to find them now..

    :) Miss you around and take care yeah?

    HUG

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  12. Dear Krislin,
    Wish you a very happy chinese new year (lunar year)
    Very happy to see you again dear !
    Hope your Grandpa is fine now...
    Thank you so much for updating your poetry blog. I love to read 'em.
    How have you been? Yeah missing you so much here...
    keep visiting Kris..see fishes are dying ! :)

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  13. Wow ! This is the greatest compliment for me !
    Thank You so much Alankrita...you made my day ! :)
    keep visiting dear ! :)

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  14. Triple test is still applicable...what a lovely piece you shared with us...Jyotsna you are superb...

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  15. hey thank you ! :) you made my day !! :)

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  16. Really, the people in the habit of backbiting must think whether what they are going to do would benefit anyone or not.
    A nice soul-searching post. Thanks a lot!

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  17. well said suresh, thank you! :)

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  18. how true..... !! now-a-days, it has become a habit of every human to start or believe in rumors! Actually its not the fault of one person only. Its the fault of all of us, who make a society and with our negative thinking....we are going on polluting it!!!!
    anyways.....that was a very nice story!thank you very much for sharing this..... it revealed a very true but negative fact that all of us possess!!!!!!!!!! really very nice and fruitful!!!!

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  19. @Aakriti & @Awful Licks07 :

    well said aakriti ! Thank you for your visit and expressing your view. keep visiting ! :)

    thank you Awful for visiting my blog ! :)

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  20. We tell this story at camp Ive always liked it

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  21. good posting about Triple Filter Test...

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