Friday, September 27, 2013

Triple Filter Test by Socrates...

Triple Filter- Everyone should analyze the validity of statements that others backbite about, words can portray good as bad and vice versa. But heart sees truth not words. If you go with words, you are prone to loose relationships, and unnecessarily misunderstand and hurt others. So think twice, before you come to a conclusion about anyone. Another thing, if someone comes near you and backbites about others, be sure that he will do the same about you, near others. It's not my word, it's a spanish proverb. 

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day one fellow 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 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 and held in such high esteem.

Friends, use this triple filter each time you hear loose talk about any of your near and dear ones.