Kong Zi. called Confucius(551-479 B. C. ). and Socrates (469-399 B. C. )lived only a hundred years apart, and during their lifetimes there was no contact between China and Greece, but it is interesting on look at how the world that each of there great philosophers came from shaped their ideas, and how these in turn, shaped their societies.
Neither philosopher lived in times of peace, though there were more wars in Greece than in China. The Chinese states were very large and feudal, while the Greek city-states were small and urban. The urban environment in which Socrates lived allowed him to be more radical(激进的)than Confucius. Unlike Confucius, Socrates was not asked by rulers how to govern effectively. Thus Socrates was able to be more idealistic, focusing on issues like freedom and knowledge for its own sake, on the other hand, advised those in government service, and many of his students went on to government service.
Confucius suggested Rule as a principle for the conduct of “Do not do to others what you would not want others to you. ”He assumed that all men were equal at birth, though some potential than others, are that it was knowledge that set men apart. Socrates focused on individual, and thought that the greatest purpose of man was to seek wisdom. He believed that some had more potential to develop their reason than others did. Like Confucius, he believed that the superior class should rule the inferior(下层的)classes.
For Socrates, the family was of no importance, and the community of little concern. For Confucius, however, the family was the centre of society, with family relations considered much more important than political relations.
Both men are respected much more today than they were in their lifetimes.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
A.Socrates and Confucius had much in common.
B.Confuius had much influence on Socrates ideas.
C.The societies were influenced by the philosophers’ ideas.
D. there were cultural exchanges between China and Greece.
2.Socates snared wih Confucius the idea that_________.
A.all men were equal when they were born
B.the lower classes should be ruled by the upper class
C.the purpose of man was to seek freedom and wisdom
D.people should not ask others to do what they did not want to
3.What made some people different from others according to Confucius?
A.Family B.Potential C.Knowledge D.Community
4.This passage is organized in the pattem of_________
A.time and events B.comparison and contrast
C.cause and effect D.definition and classification
