The Great Philosopher

One day an acquaintance of his met the great philosopher at the market and said: 'Socrates, do you know what I just heard about your friend?'

'Hold on a minute,' said Socrates, 'before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a test I developed. It is called the 'Triple Filter' Test.'

'Triple filter?'

'Yes, that's right,' Socrates said. 'Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say.

The first filter is the TRUTH. Have you made absolutely certain that what you are about to tell me is the Truth?'

'No', the man said. 'I can't be positive it's true. Actually I just heard it....'

'All right,' said Socrates. 'So you don't 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?'

'No, on the contrary....'

'So', Socrates continued, 'you want to tell me something bad about my friend and you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, there is one filter remaining.'

'This is the filter of Usefulness. Is what you are about 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 then why tell me at all?'

That is why Socrates was held in such high esteem.

It also explains why Socrates never found out his best friend was shagging his wife.