What Was the Temperament of Socrates?
According to ancient legend, Socrates was walking along the road between is home and the market to buy his daily ration of bread and cheese. As he walked along an acquaintance (who was also a notorious gossip) caught sight of him from some distance away and immediately began hurrying toward Socrates. At the acquaintance breathlessly and smiling greatly approached Socrates he began to tell him a bit of gossip.
The exchange went something like this.
“Socrates! Socrates! You must hear this. There is something I must tell you about one of your students. You won’t believe it.”
At this point Socrates held up his hand to still the acquaintance and said, “My but you seem terribly excited and delighted. But, I can also see from the slant of your grin that you also feel that some of what you wish to tell me may not be wonderful. So before you begin your news I will ask you three questions. If your news passes this worthiness test, I will buy you a meal and we will sit together as you tell me all about it.”
The acquaintances smiled even wider. For one he had not had breakfast and the meal would be welcome. For another, his bit of information was so juicy he had no reserves that it would easily pass the worthiness test. And so he said, “Ask you questions Socrates. I am ready to answer.”
Socrates nodded in agreement and began with the first question.
“Friend, can you tell me with complete confidence that this information is absolutely true. And by this I mean did you personally witness the event of which you wish to tell me?”
The jaw of the acquaintance dropped and he assumed a somewhat anxious demeanor as he said,”Well, no. I didn’t actually see it. But, I have it from a very reliable source!”
Socrates replied,”Oh well don’t worry about it. I have two more questions that will allow you to tell your tale. Here is the next question,”Is what you are about to tell me a positive thing that ads value or goodness?”
At the questions the face of the acquaintance fell and he began to sputter, “Good?! No it isn’t good, but that is why you need to know…..?
Socrates raised his hand again and said, ” Yes, of course. I’m sure you are correct. If there is something bad happening that I can do something to help or improve I should certainly know about it. So, this brings us to my third and final question. Is there anything I can do about what you are about to tell me? Or will the information at least be of use to me in improving the situation?”
The acquaintance was completely crest fallen and puzzled at his inability to share his bit of gossip as he said, “No, no, I don’t think there is anything you could really do about it. But…”
At this point Socrates interrupted and said, “I can see you are busy and have much on your mind. I’ll run along and let you get on with your day.” Then Socrates turned and went along his way to the market.
I enjoyed this lesson from the first time I heard it (though it was always in pieces). And I have often thought about the temperament of wise Socrates to devise such a cunning filter to eliminate his exposure to pointless gossip.
Let me summarize the scenario here.
Socrates stymied the gossip with the following filter test. An answer to no to any question ends the discussion.
1. Can you assure me that what you are about to tell me is absolutely true?
2. Can you assure me that what you are about to tell me is good?
3. Can you assure me that what you are about to tell me will be useful to me?
With this philosophy, what do you think Socrates temperament was?