Truth and Goodness

*** The original German version to this text was posted here yesterday.

Getting to the point.

Today’s blogpost is a a present from Immo Wache, team-member Verena’s husband. He is minister on the island of Tenerife. These are wise words, especially, but not only in these Corona times, when fake news are the only ones to roam freely and often unrestraint. 

„This is how it is…“ an acqaintance of mine tends to begin a sentence. Or: “Let’s get to the point in this…” and then he explains something we never asked to know. His facts (”… this really needs to be said in all clarity,,,”) are usually things he picked up somewhere. A lot of it not even true. And that reminds me of the story of the three sieves of the Greek philosopher Sokrates:

One day, the old wise Socrates walks down the streets, when all of the sudden a man runs up to him: "Socrates I have to tell you something about your friend who..."

"Hold up" Socrates interrupts him "About the story you're about to tell me, did you put it trough the three sieves?"

"Three sieves?" The man asks "What three sieves?"

"Let's try it" Socrates says. "The first sieve is the one of truth, did you examine what you were about to tell me if it is true?" Socrates asks.

"Well no, I just overheard it" The man says.

"Ah, well then you have used the second sieve, the sieve of good?" Socrates asks "Is it something good what you're about to tell me?"

"Ehm no, on the contrary" the man answers.

"Hmmm" The wise man says "Let's use the third sieve then, is it necessary to tell me what you're so exited about?"

"No not necessary" the man says.

"Well" Socrates says with a smile "If the story you're about to tell me isn't true, good or necessary, just forget it and don't bother me with it."