Socrates vs Confucius
Who? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Socrates Ancient Greece · 470–399 BC 49% · #14 in the world
- Confucius Ancient China · 551–479 BC 51% · #13 in the world
What the votes say
Too close to call: the world picks Confucius over Socrates by just 51% to 49%. Confucius is #13 of the 185 thinkers in the world ranking, and #1 of the 3 from Ancient China. Socrates is #14, and #3 of the 13 from Ancient Greece.
The case for each
Socrates: Athenian philosopher of the 5th century BC who wrote nothing and taught by questioning, the Socratic method. Sentenced to death by hemlock in 399 BC and known through Plato, who made Socrates the hero of the dialogues.
Confucius: Chinese teacher of the 6th and 5th centuries BC whose sayings, collected in the Analects, put virtue, family duty and good government at the heart of life. For two thousand years the core of Chinese education and the state.
Side by side
| Socrates | Confucius | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #14 | #13 |
| Country | Ancient Greece | Ancient China |
| Lived | 470–399 BC | 551–479 BC |