Was Socrates a wise man ?

[Patrick]

 
Subject: Was Socrates very wise?

     
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?"
     
"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?" asked the acquaintance. 
   
"That's right," Socrates continued, "Before you talk to me about Diogenes 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."   
   
"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 Diogenes something good?"
 
"No, on the contrary..."
   
"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me
something about Diogenes that may be bad, 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 Diogenes 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 or anyone at all?"
       
The man was bewildered and ashamed.
 
This is an example of why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. It also explains why Socrates never found out that Diogenes was banging his wife.

Charlie
Inside Every Old Person Is A Young Person, Wondering What The Heck Happened.


 

[J.Mencalice]

He was such a brilliant mind, an innovator, a liberal minded individual, an educator, a pursuer of virtue instead of materialism, a social and moral critic, a truly wise man, and a philosopher that "The Establishment" of the day railroaded him into being found guilty of trumped up charges (corrupting society) and sentenced him to death by drinking hemlock.

He went gratefully and peacefully to his death in believing that the old need to die in order to make way for others to thrive.
He'd lived his life to the fullest and was more than willing to check out with honor and bravery.

Things haven't actually changed much in 2500 years. when you give it some thought.

[Alpha Dog]

I would think someone banging my wife would be useful to me.
Chuck

[Wizzard]

I would think someone banging my wife would be useful to me.
Chuck

Me too, I  might want to know!

[Oss]

you never mentioned that when we were at the cave Czuch   

[Jess from VA]

[GiG]