In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"
"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 someth
2006-12-15 01:52:48 · 12 answers · asked by your pete 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
"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 sleeping with his wife.
2006-12-15 01:53:34 · update #1
Brilliant!! :D
2006-12-15 01:56:15 · answer #1 · answered by Natyla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Socrates was a great philosopher. He likely had an open intimate relationship with any female partner he had and/or had homosexual tendencies.
On that note, you also failed to leave out that Socrates had probably also already had sexual relations with Plato at this point, sexual acts that would probably be defined as abuse or molestation by today's standards. This was simply the norm in ancient Greece... part of the relationship between student and teacher.. between master and apprentice.
If sexuality in these times was that much different than our time.. How could marriage be anything like what it is today? This is still a funny joke in today's time and standard.. but likely to be irrelevant to Socrates or any other ancient Greek philosopher.
2006-12-15 02:03:21 · answer #2 · answered by Jape Coyote 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
But surely the fact he might be sleeping with his wife could be constrewd to be useful information to poor old socrates?
2006-12-15 02:06:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Socrates himself is particularly missed
a lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he's p1ssed
2006-12-15 01:57:28 · answer #4 · answered by SeabourneFerriesLtd 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
socrates was a great philosopher but not a perfect person
2006-12-15 01:57:23 · answer #5 · answered by batigol_987 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Positively brilliant, high humour. Much appreciated on a bleak evening.
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
A Wickedly Happy Christmas to all!
2006-12-15 06:48:13 · answer #6 · answered by Charles-CeeJay_UK_ USA/CheekyLad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very good lol 10/10
2006-12-15 01:57:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
very good he didnt see that coming haha
2006-12-15 07:49:01 · answer #8 · answered by jennusula 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so, the unexamined life maybe ok, after all.
2006-12-15 02:07:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
priceless!!
2006-12-15 02:04:00 · answer #10 · answered by yipeee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋