Aristo-Socratic Triple Filter Technique for Leaders of Startups

Problem defined:

These days we have lot of us working on our dreams, ideas and vision for a better future. Startups are the most common business ventures we see these days, where we have our generation of Millennials working on business ideas.

Many a times we start an idea but; we need that surety, seriousness and proper research to build it up further.

In my last 15 years of experience as a Learning professional working in field of Learning & Development, I came across many tools for ‘Critical Thinking’ and ‘Analyzing’.

The one I present here will be a Simple tool to help Startups , Millennial Leaders or any leader to help them analyze their idea or a solution with the lens of Three artistic proofs of Aristotle blended with Socractic Triple filter test.

Well in my mind I see both as the overlap of the same philosophy and it also maps perfectly with three major parts of our brain.

Background:

Socrates was a great Greek Philosopher born in 399 BC and was an amazing teacher who taught his students by making them ‘think’.

One day a man came to Socrates with intention to gossip about someone else. He told Socrates that he has something interesting to tell about one person who was not present there.

Socrates politely said; ‘If you are about to tell me something about this person behind his back then you can tell this to me if it passes my Triple Filters.’

‘First filter is of Truthfulness: Are your sure what you are telling me is true?’

‘Well actually I heard it from someone and can’t validate it’ – the man replied.

Socrates said, ‘Alright then let’s go for the second filter of Goodness: Is it something good about the person you are sharing and does any good to anyone?’

‘No on the contrary it is something bad’ – Man looked confused saying that.

‘So you don’t know if it is true and you are sharing something bad about the person; well I can still listen to you, if it passes the third filter. Third filter is of Usefulness: Is it useful to either one of us or to anyone else?’ – Socrates asked.

‘No it is not useful either’ – Man replied.

Socrates said – ‘What you are sharing is neither True, nor Good and not even Useful to anyone, then why do you want to share in the first place, lets save each other’s time and energy!’

Many years later Aristotle born in 384 BC in Greece also said the same thing in a different manner. It is called the Three artistic proofs of Aristotle – Ethos, Pathos & Logos.

Ethos means credibility or character, Pathos means appeal to emotions and Logos means appeal to logic.

The Technique:

While reading about the above two I see a distinct parallel that helped me to create the foundation of what I now call ‘Aristo-Socratic Filter’ for thinking critically.

1.      Truthfulness builds credibility and character or Ethos

2.      If it is Good and has essential Goodness, it makes us feel Good and appeals to our emotions or Pathos

3.      When something has Logical Usefulness and benefits, it results in appealing to our analytical and logical mind or Logos

Recommendation:

The Millennial Leaders and Startup entrepreneurs must think from following three perspectives about their ideas, solutions and recommendations by analyzing it from the three filters:

‘Aristo-Socratic Filter’

1.      Truthfulness/ Ethos:  (Brain Stem : Basic Vital functions)

·  Can you prove the idea with help of research?

·  What is credibility of the analysis done for the idea?

·  Is the idea viable?

2.      Goodness/ Pathos: (Cerebellum or ‘Little brain’: Sensory, motor functions and emotions)

·  Is the idea good for the Vision you have for the company?

·  What are the feelings that are attached to it?

·  Is your team motivated and aligned?

3.      Usefulness/ Logos:  (Cerebrum or Cortex: Reasoning, Associations and Logic)

·        What are the long term benefits for the idea?

·        What is the logic of choosing the idea?

·        Is the model scalable?

Suggestion:

Feel free to use the tool presented here to diagnose your ideas and plans. It will give you the edge of being a critical and rational thinker when you plan for the Vision you have.

It requires your Left side of the Brain to achieve the Visions and aspirations of the Right side!

Feel free to share this tool with anyone who needs, and if you need any more help, please feel free to connect.

Warmest regards,

Anupam Rawat

21 May 2018

#Entrepreneurship #Success #Coaching #Effectiveness #Millennial #Startups #Socrates #Aristotle #CriticalThinking #Toolkit #CEO #Business #Mindfulness #MindfulLeadership #ServantLeadership #AristoSocraticFilter

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