The Triple Filter Test
In ancient Greece, Socrates held knowledge in high esteem. One day an aquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything 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 friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and 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 friend something good?
"No, on the contrary....."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left; the filter of Usefullness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
This is why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
It also explains why he never found out his best friend was having an affair with his wife.
posted by Karen @ 7:54 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
In my humble opinion, Fr. Don Cozzens passes the test:
http://unitedparishes.blogspot.com/2007/03/embracing-faithful-calling.html
Sometimes people don't want to know the truth, because it doesn't help the agenda they have in mind. Other times they don't want to have to deal with the consequences. In any case, good decisions can not be made unless you have all the information. This can only happen when there is trust and open communication on all sides. It is hard enough to make good decisions when we have all the facts, but it is even harder when things are done behind closed doors. The truth is, no one has all the answers . Not the pope or priests or even us. We all need to have a deep prayer life and we all need to rely on others for a deeper understanding of OUR faith. We all have times that we need a shoulder to lean on and also are called to be a shoulder for others. We need to have balance in our life and a focus on GOD. We are all one piece of the puzzle, but the puzzle will never be complete without all of us!!!!
GOD BLESS
I guess you don't believe in papal infallibility then?
I wonder if moving Cardinal Law from Boston to Rome, to escape criminal prosecution was a case of papal infallibility?
For it to be a case for papal infallibility, the case has to be about faith and/or morals and has to be declared infallible.
Then there was no morality or lack therof inovled in the movement of Cardinal Law to Rome to avoid his prosecution?
Am I understanding this point correctly?
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