ANCIENT WISDOM ……..

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’ve only 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 meabout 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 else 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.

I understand that the modern translation of the name Socrates from Greek into current day English is would you believe …… Rupert!!!

Isn’t that amazing, what a coincidence!!!

Anyway have a good day and hope to see you soon.

All the best,

Billy  

P.S. I made that last bit up but as far as I’m concerned it’s true!

We sent this to Rupert many years ago and still have a great laugh about it.