The Four-Way Test: A Timeless Guide to Truth, Fairness and the Common Good
During the Great Depression in 1932, Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor introduced The Four-Way Test. The Test is an ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships.
Perhaps Mr. Taylor took a page from the classical teaching of Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher from Classical Athens. In one account, in 600 A.D., Socrates was visited by an acquaintance of his. Eager to share some juicy gossip, the man asked if Socrates would like to know the story he’d just heard about a friend of theirs. Socrates replied that before the man spoke, he needed to pass the “Triple-Filter” test.
The first filter, he explained, is Truth. “are you absolutely sure that what you are about to say is true?” The man shook his head. “No, just heard it from the grapevine.”
Socrates interjected, “You don’t know for certain that it is true, then lets try the second filter. Is what you want to say something good or kind?” Again, the man shook his head. “No! it’s just the opposite.”
Socrates went on, “So you are not certain that what you want to say is true, and it isn’t good or kind. One filter still remains, though, so you may yet still tell me. That is Usefulness or Necessity. Is this information useful or necessary to me?” A little defeated, the man replied, “No, not really.”
“Well, then,” Socrates said, turning on his heel. “If what you want to say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don’t say anything at all.”
If everyone thinks like Socrates, there will be no more “Marites” in our midst.
But what is the truth? Nowadays, there are different versions of truth especially in this woke culture. Truth has been discombobulated and ever-changing depending on how one feels at the moment. The woke warriors insist that gender is just a social construct and that there are more than 2 genders, even thousands of genders, again depending on how one feels. They dispute biological realities and that the XX and XY chromosomes do not exist. This has led to confusion more so for young innocent children who are malleable and can easily be manipulated. Many have undergone gender reassignment surgeries without consent. If we listen to the cacophony of voices of the woke culture, we will all be doomed. So what is the truth? In the Book of Genesis, God, on the 6th day, created the animals on land and the sea and the birds in the sky and as His magnum opus, He created man in His own image. He made them man and woman and named them Adam and Eve… not Madam and Steve. This is the absolute truth.
Is it fair to all concerned? The woke ideology has thrown fairness out the window. For instance, they insist that a transwoman (biological man who thinks he is a woman) can now compete in womens sports – WNBA, swimming, boxing, wrestling, marathon etc. As a result, they dominate women’s sports. This is unfair to girls who have dreamed of making it to the world stage of sports only to be dashed by a man pretending to be a woman.
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Genuine friendships are forged on the crucible of truth. A relationship founded on a lie and falsehoods never last and would only lead to betrayal, distrust, hostility and animosity.
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Or put it another way - Is it for the common good? In this convoluted world where good becomes evil and evil good, what then is the common good? Who decides what is beneficial to all concerned? To some, the question maybe confounding but to those who continue to hold on to God, the source of truth, the answer is, as my 4-year old grandson would say, easy-peasy.
So of the things we think, say or do, lets ask ourselves, Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Written by: Past President Raddy Diola of RC CEBU GUADALUPE, District 3860.
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