Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumor or spread gossip.
In ancient Greece (469 â 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, âSocrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?â
âWait a moment,â Socrates replied, âBefore you tell me Iâd like you to pass a little test. Itâs called the Triple Filter Test.â
âTriple filter?â asked the acquaintance.
âThatâs right,â Socrates continued, âBefore you talk to me about Diogenes letâs take a moment to filter what youâre going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?â
âNo,â the man said, âActually, I just heard about it.â
âAll right,â said Socrates, âSo you donât really know if itâs true or not. Now letâs try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about Diogenes something good?â
âNo, on the contraryâŚâ
âSo,â Socrates continued, âYou want to tell me something about Diogenes that may be bad, even though youâre not certain itâs true?â
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, âYou 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?â
âWell,â concluded Socrates, âIf what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me or anyone at all?â
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 banging his wife.
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