A quick word on philosophy

Tango589 · 07-01-08, 01:27 PM

Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat a rumour.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"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 my student 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 my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary ...".

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, 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 my student 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?"

The man was defeated and ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. It also explains why he never found out that Plato was shagging his wife.

August · 07-01-08, 02:14 PM

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Sailor Steve · 07-01-08, 04:48 PM

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sorry to be a parrot.

Platapus · 07-01-08, 05:35 PM

If we were to use the triple filter test here, this would be one empty forum LoL

mrbeast · 07-01-08, 06:25 PM

:rotfl: Good one

On the subject of humour and philosophers, this is priceless

:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5fGS...eature=related

Sailor Steve · 07-01-08, 10:44 PM

I used to watch Python all the time, and I don't remember that one.

Funny stuff!

07-01-08, 01:27 PM	#1
Tango589 Still crazy as ever! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 3,375 Downloads: 180 Uploads: 1	A quick word on philosophy Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat a rumour. In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?" "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 my student 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 my student something good?" "No, on the contrary ...". "So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, 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 my student 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?" The man was defeated and ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. It also explains why he never found out that Plato was shagging his wife. __________________ Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...

07-01-08, 02:14 PM	#2
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-01-08, 04:48 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Sorry to be a parrot. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-01-08, 05:35 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	If we were to use the triple filter test here, this would be one empty forum LoL __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-01-08, 06:25 PM	#5
mrbeast Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bolton, UK Posts: 1,236 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	:rotfl: Good one On the subject of humour and philosophers, this is priceless : http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5fGS...eature=related __________________

07-01-08, 10:44 PM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I used to watch Python all the time, and I don't remember that one. Funny stuff! __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo