Re: Fw: Socrates & Knowledge 08-07-02

[Guest guest]

Being 1/2 Greek and a previous philosophy major many moons ago, I

really appreciated this. Sorry to know he took hemlock and died for

corrupting the youth of Athens...

Thanks .

Al in IL

> This is a great test that we can all find useful. Wouldn't it be

nice if

> everyone used this test?

>

> in Minnesota

> >

> > " Socrates & Knowledge "

> >

> > In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold

> > knowledge in high esteem.

> >

> > One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and

> > said, " Do you know what I just heard about your

> > friend? "

> >

> > Hold on a minute, " Socrates replied. " Before telling

> > me anything, 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 friend, it might be a good idea to take a

> > moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why

> > I call it the triple filter test.

> >

> > 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

> > and... "

> >

> > 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 my friend something good? "

> >

> > No, on the contrary... "

> >

> > So, " Socrates continued, " you want to tell me

> > something bad about him, but you're not certain it's

> > true. You may still pass the test though, because

> > there's one filter left: the filter of USEFULNESS. Is

> > what you want 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, why tell

> > it to me at all? "

> >

> > This is why Socrates was a great philosopher & held in

> > such high esteem. Friends, use this triple filter each

> > time you hear loose talk about any of your near & dear

> > friends.