The Triple-Filter Test
The Triple-Filter Test 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 you talk to me about my friend, it might be 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 ” “Well, 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 ” “Umm, no, on the contrary ” “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about my friend, 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 “
