Before you speak, ask yourself these 3 questions
Socrates, the famous philosopher of Ancient Greece, devised the ‘Triple Filter Test’ to make people think before they speak.
Socrates’ Triple Filter Test: Think before you speak!
In ancient Greece, Socrates (the famous philosopher) was visited by an acquaintance of his. Eager to share some juicy gossip, the man asked Socrates would he like to know the story he just heard about a friend of theirs. Socrates replied that before the man spoke, he needed to pass the “Triple Filter Test”.
Socrates’ triple filter test: how it works
The first filter, Socrates explained to his acquaintance, is truth.
“Have you made absolutely sure that what you were about to say is true?”
The man shook his head. “No, I actually just heard about it, and…” Socrates cut him off.
“You don’t know for certain that is true, then? Is what you want to say something good or kind?“
Again, the man should his head. “No! Actually. Just the opposite. You see…”
Socrates lifted his hand to stop the man speaking.
“So you are not certain that what do you want to say is true, and it isn’t good or kind. One filter still remains, though, so you may yet still tell me. That is usefulness or necessity. Is this information useful or necessary to me?”
A little defeated, the man replied, “No, not really.”
“Well, then,“ Socrates said, turning on his heel. “If what you want to say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don’t say anything at all.”
Consider this. Before you answer a question or voice your opinion, ask yourself:
Is it true?
Is it good?
Is it kind?
Is it useful?
Is it necessary?
If it passes these filters, speak up. If not, either find a tactful way to make it pass the test or better still, keep it to yourself.
Most people leave it at that and assume that the story is just about the information we spread.
What is the real truth behind it, however, is about the information we seek and create. Imagine how different the world would be if we only chose to seek and create information that was true, or good, or useful.
Thanks for reading our post!
source : brightvibes.com
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