Wisdom, rumours and just plain gossip

[just john]

Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour:
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 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 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?"

"Well, the opposite 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 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. 

It also explains why Socrates never found out that Diogenes was his wifes lover.

 

 

 

[woolybanana]

Tell this to Norman!

[NickP]

[quote user="woolybanana"]Tell this to Norman![/quote]

 Was Norman having off with Socrates wife? I know some of his theories are a bit old hat, but hang on Wooly  [:D]

[NormanH]

He is referring to his standing joke (sic) that I live in a barrel like Diogenes.

"Diogenes of Sinope was always controversial.....made a virtue of extreme poverty, famously begging for a living and

sleeping in a large tub in the marketplace. He became notorious for his

provocative behaviour and philosophical stunts"

[woolybanana]

He is not just a silken tongue you see; there is a brain in there too.[:P]

[Christine Animal]

A barrel with a siver lining.

 

[NickP]

[quote user="NormanH"]He is referring to his standing joke (sic) that I live in a barrel like Diogenes.
"Diogenes of Sinope was always controversial.....made a virtue of extreme poverty, famously begging for a living and sleeping in a large tub in the marketplace. He became notorious for his provocative behaviour and philosophical stunts"
[/quote]

So, let me get this right? Socrates's wife was humping a tramp in a barrel in the market, well I never, I must pay more attention when we go to Montoire market on Saturday. It just goes to show you don't realise what is going on around you.  [Www]

[Bugsy]

[quote user="NickP"]So, let me get this right? Socrates's wife was humping a tramp in a barrel in the market,.........................[/quote]

I don't think thats physically possible, is it ?

Unless it was a big barrel, I suppose. [:)]

[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/Bugbear2/barrel.jpg[/IMG]

.

[bubbles]

Is that a barrel of laughs?

[NickP]

Bugsy,  you maybe right, you maybe wrong. But I notice you have a mighty large barrel in your picture.   [:D]   Anyway take a look at this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R32Ln7YZ6ig&feature=related