EntKeep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour or spread gossip. er Your Question Title Here

[lankeela]

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.

[askyourgran]

Lol no wonder he had dodgyknees.

[tenrec]

Excellent, I didn't see that coming.

[starone]

I didn't either. I thought Socrates was going to say 'Right, now that we have got that settled feed me all the dirt.' or words to that effect.

[marval]

Good one.

[nannybooby]

Very good

[maggiebee]

Chortle splutter, didn't see that punchline coming.

[lankeela]

I thought it was brilliant, and it really made me smile. Sorry about the extra letters as I cut and pasted it into the question title!

[mike11111]

Although extremely funny there is a fundamental philosophical flaw; surely that information would have been useful to Socrates.

Also, Socrates' wife, Xanthippe, was a notoriously bad-tempered shrew, so I cannot imagine anyone shagging her, not even Socrates!

[Arksided]

I always thought he was a footballer, so it wouldn't really bother him ;-)

Good one I did like it.

[tonyav]

Eureka, I like it lol.

[AB Editor]

That's what I was thinking Mike....

[mike11111]

It was probably because of his wife that Socrates turned his attention to young men, which led to his condemnation and death.

[Arksided]

well we all know the saying about great minds thinking alike...

There's not too much of an overflow here is there.

[Tubbycoates]

Great Joke !! Very funny.