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Socrates and 'The Three Sieves'

8/10/2013

10 Comments

 
Picture
The story of Socrates and ‘The Three Sieves’ is posted all over the internet, source unknown.

     What if everyone  performed the simple ‘Three Sieves Test’ before speaking out? Many possibilities, but for sure the world would be a more peaceful and silent place.

Once upon a time in ancient Greece, one of the acquaintances of the great philosopher Socrates came up to him and said: “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?”

“Hold on a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me, I would like to perform a simple test. It is called the ‘Three Sieves Test.’ ”

“The ‘Three Sieves Test?’ ”

“Yes. Before you say a word about my student, take a moment to reflect carefully on what you wish to say by pouring your words through three special sieves.”

“The first sieve is the Sieve of Truth. Are you absolutely sure, without any doubt, that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“Well, no, I’m not. Actually I heard it recently and…”

“Alright,” interrupted Socrates. “So you don’t really know whether it is true or not. Then let us try the second sieve: the Sieve of Goodness. Are you going to tell me something good about my student?”

“Well…no,” said his acquaintance. “On the contrary…”

“So you want to tell me something bad about him,” questioned Socrates, “even though you are not certain if it is true or not?”

“Err…”

“You may still pass the test though,” said the Socrates, “because there is a third sieve: the Sieve of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?”

“No. Not so much.” said the man resignedly.

Finishing the lesson, Socrates said: “Well, then, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor useful, why bother telling me at all?”


10 Comments
Ånund
9/15/2016 04:31:33 pm

Did you go through the first siv when posting this?

As in, did you check that any historical source ever mentioned that Socrates ever said this?

Reply
nancy
9/15/2016 04:44:20 pm

Lol that was hilarious. (True, good and beneficial).

"This is in The Children’s Story Garden published in Philadelphia in 1920."

Reply
Jj
9/15/2016 09:37:00 pm

It's good and useful.

Reply
Frank Blissett
12/21/2016 05:40:09 am

"...posted all over the internet, source unknown...". That would seem to meet the truth sieve, by admitting its provenance is unknown & the story may be therefor be a parable.

Reply
Charlie
6/9/2022 01:59:45 am

Not bothered about origin...good advice

Airvay
11/26/2019 11:36:16 pm

And you, Ånund, did you sift your comment with a spellchecker?

Reply
Joshua G.
11/14/2022 12:55:56 pm

The spirit of this story is great, no matter who said it or where it originated.
This story also passes it's proverbial “Three Sieves”.
Is this story the Truth?
Because it is by “Unknown”, it may, or may not be in fact the truth. Did Socrates actually say this? We may never know. In that aspect it's hearsay. By the writer admitting this is a story from “Unknown”, the writer is in fact telling the Truth. He does not know who said it, BUT it was in fact said by someone.

Is this story “Good, or Nice”?
This story is Mostly Good. This story shows Socrates in a favorable light. However, the man who came to Socrates to spread gossip shows him in a somewhat negative light as he's attempting to spread gossip. But he's doing so in a somewhat ignorant fashion. Because this story is a good story no matter who said it. It passes the second sieve.

Does this Story have “Relevance or any Benefits”?
Yes. It most definitely does. This Story gives people a very special way of being able filter Gossip from Knowledge, and Information from Misinformation.
And so this Story Passes it's third sieve.
So this is a good story that spreads Truth, in that this Story comes from an Unknown Person. This Story is Good, that it shows Socrates in a Favorable light. Finally this Story is most definitely Beneficial.
This is Good to Know.

Reply
Chiko
11/18/2022 06:07:39 am

Even we accept parables as great

Reply
Binbing Ow link
11/25/2022 06:22:16 pm

管好自己
别人说与想如何
是他的事
别人如何对我
是我的果报
自我检讨
有过则改
不出口伤人
尽力帮人
只要心善
对人真心诚意
知己不难寻
人生如浪花
有缘才会相遇
何苦让人日子难过?
对不?
世界小小小
有一天
或许你的亲友
也是我的相识
对不!

Reply
欧冰冰Owbinbing link
11/25/2022 06:26:05 pm

管好自己的言行最为重要
口德不严守
伤人又不利己

欧冰水
不是彬彬欧

欧冰冰合十

Reply



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