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The story of Socrates and the Triple filter has been around a while. It's a great story to tell during section 7 of the first unit of Book 1, Understanding Baha'i Writings.

This puppet play is made from the story. We make puppets out of coffee filters (triple filters) and Socrates is, of course, made of a sock. It's great fun and the point is made.

Socrates and the Triple Filter Test  

Narrator: In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said:

Acquaintance: "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

Socrates: "Hold on a minute. Before telling me anything, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the triple filter test."

Acquaintance: "Triple filter?"

Socrates: "That's right. 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. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

Acquaintance: "No, actually I just heard about it and..."

Socrates: "All right. 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?"

Acquaintance: "No, on the contrary..."

Socrates: "So, 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 usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

Acquaintance: "No, not really."

Socrates: "Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Narrator: This is why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

Like Socrates, ask: Is it true? Is it good? Is it useful?