What we bring you is the story of the test of the three sieves of Socrates, a method that serves to know whether or not it is worth talking behind another person's back.
Socrates' Three Sieves Test
In ancient Greece, Socrates had a great reputation for his wisdom. One day someone came to see the great philosopher and said:
- "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
- "Wait a minute" - answered Socrates - "Before you tell me, I would like to make you a test, the one with the three sieves".
- "The three sieves?"
- “But yes” - continued Socrates - “Before telling everything about others, it is good to take the time to filter what one would like to say. I call it the three sieve test. The first sieve is the truth. Have you checked if what you are about to tell me is true?"
- "No... I've only heard about it..."
- "Very good. So you don't know if that's the truth. Let's continue with the second sieve, that of goodness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend something good?
- "Oh no! On the contrary."
- “So” - continued Socrates - “You want to tell me bad things about him and you're not even sure if they're true. Perhaps you can still pass the test, the third sieve remains, that of utility. Is it helpful that I know what this friend would have done to me?"
- "Not really."
- “So” - Socrates concluded - “what you wanted to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful; Why did you want to tell me?"
Morality:
If when you talk about someone, you are not sure if what you are going to say is true, good and useful, then it is better that you keep that information to yourself.
This was the story of the test of the three Socrates sieves, find more stories like these on our site, on Instagram and Facebook.
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