Have you heard of Socrates’ three filters? This is a well-known anecdote attributed to the Greek philosopher, which refers to the importance of thinking before speaking, as well as avoiding the spread of gossip and rumors, as well as criticizing and judging others.
The anecdote says that one of Socrates’ disciples came in a hurry to tell him that he had met one of the philosopher’s friends, who had spoken ill of him.
Hearing this, Socrates asked him to calm down and before letting him speak told him that his message had to go through three necessary filters, and that if it didn’t pass them, what he had to say was not worth listening to.
Thus, Socrates asked his disciple: “Are you absolutely sure that what you are going to tell me is true?”. The disciple thought about it for a moment and came to the conclusion that he was not really sure that what he had heard was something bad, since it was all a matter of perspective. «Then you don’t know if everything is true or not,» said the philosopher. The disciple had to admit no.
Then he asked a second question: “Is what you are going to tell me good or not?”. The disciple answered with certainty that it was not a good thing, because what he was going to tell him could cause discomfort and distress to his teacher. Then Socrates said: «You are going to tell me something bad, but you are not totally sure that it is true.» The disciple admitted that it was so.
Finally, the wise man asked: “Is what you have to tell me going to help me?”. The disciple hesitated, but in the end he replied that knowing would not really be useful to Socrates.
Knowing the three responses of his disciple, Socrates refused to listen to what he wanted to tell him and gave him this argument: «If what you want to tell me isn’t true, or good, or even useful, why would I want to know?».
This means that truth, goodness, and utility are Socrates’ three filters, and the three questions he asked his disciple are the ones every person should ask before saying something:
- Are you sure that what you are going to say is true? Do you know and can you prove it?
- Is what you are going to say good? Does it benefit those who will know it or will it make them feel positive emotions?
- Is it necessary for you to say it? Is it useful to whom you are going to say it to?
Asking yourself these three questions, both for what you are going to say and for what you are going to hear from others, will help you have healthy and constructive communication. In everyday life, it prevents you from having to deal with and become involved in gossip and rumors, as well as avoiding their spread and the damage they can do both to you and to those involved in those messages.