Monday, April 17, 2006

Socrates and Plato

I came across a post by Huda Ba'haroon and it made me wonder a bit. According to her story (not sure about the authenticity)...

"Phiosopher Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day he 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?"

"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 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 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."

And also the reason why he was unaware of the fact that Plato, one of his students, had a better time with his wife. I just thought both sides of the story needed to be told.

4 Comments:

At Monday, April 17, 2006, Blogger emptyhours said...

"zindagee kirket and masti"
sounds VERY interesting..

 
At Monday, April 17, 2006, Blogger Inqztve said...

Thanks. Hope your time here is well spent.

 
At Monday, April 17, 2006, Blogger Suji said...

Trust you to see sides of the story nobody else would have seen...lol.

 
At Monday, April 17, 2006, Blogger Inqztve said...

Well, apparently it is true :).

 

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