Virtue in the Analects of Confucius and the Apology of Socrates

One of the most noteworthy concepts in both the Analects of Confucius and the Apology of Socrates is virtue. According to Merriam Webster, virtue is a particular moral excellence, but this is, of course, a very simplified definition. To be virtuous is to be an honorable person and to care about all of the things that truly matter. A person that possesses this trait worries more about what is right (the way in which they go about things) than what is good (the outcomes of their actions). They stay true to their values, even if abandoning them would ultimately be more beneficial. Both texts emphasize these ideas and support the notion that virtue is one of the most important and respectable traits to have. In Book 2 of the Analects, Confucius says, “He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.” It is Confucius’ belief that all one needs to successfully govern a nation is virtue. Essentially, as long as a ruler acts in a way that is righteous, honest, and respectable, everything else will fall into place. By this definition, the concept of virtue is quite simple. In the Apology of Socrates, Plato often writes about the concept in a similar, uncomplicated manner. During Socrates’ commentary on his death sentence, he says, “The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.” Although virtue isn’t the exact word that is used here, it’s clear that Socrates is talking about the same concept. And just like Confucius, he puts it quite plainly. To be virtuous is what everyone should strive for, above all else. It is more important than any other trait, and it can take you farther than any other trait. In some ways, one can think of virtue as a blanket term that encompasses all of the other qualities that make up a good person. Someone who is virtuous is also respectful, resilient, ethical, exemplary, disciplined, honest, loyal and fair. The word holds so much weight and importance, so it’s no wonder that Plato and Confucius felt the need to address it. 

The Analects of Confucius focuses on the meaning of virtue from a ruler’s point of view, while the Apology of Socrates centers more on what virtue means for an ordinary citizen, like Socrates. Nevertheless, the authors of both texts seem to have had a similar understanding of the concept and the role it played in their systems of thought. For Confucius, virtue represented the key to China’s success. He saw a society that had fallen into chaos and corruption, and knew that the only way to restore it was through the leadership of a right-minded ruler. He strongly believed in leading by example, working hard for the things he wanted, and respecting those above and below him, all of which can be considered virtuous behaviors. Virtue played a central role in every level of the reformed society imagined by Confucius, and it’s clear that it also greatly influenced his personal life. He took it upon himself to practice what he preached and be the best version of himself so that others would follow his example. On the other hand, the role of virtue in Plato’s life was seemingly more individual and religiously focused. Although this work is written about Socrates and seems to tell us about his beliefs, Plato definitely incorporated his own ideas and often used Socrates as a mouthpiece for his own voice. Therefore, it’s safe to infer that a lot of what is said about virtue in the Apology of Socrates is an accurate reflection of the role it played in Plato’s life. Socrates strived to be a righteous person, not because he wanted others to be like him, but more so because he felt that it was his duty to the deities he worshipped. For example, when he was given the chance to ask for a different sentence, he openly admitted that even if they let him live, he would continue to practice philosophy because that is what the gods intended for him to do. This goes back to the idea of right vs. good that I touched on earlier. He cared more about his actions and what was morally acceptable than the outcome of those actions - which in this case cost him his life. Not even in a life or death situation was he willing to abandon his sense of virtue, and that shows just how central of a role it played in his (and in Plato’s) life. To sum it up, the most discernible difference in the way that Confucius and Plato viewed the concept of virtue is that while Confucius saw it from a ruler’s perspective, as a way to get people to submit to him, Plato viewed it as a more individual quality to strive toward, especially in a religious context. Despite this difference, the two authors have a similar appreciation for the concept of virtue. 

For both Confucius and Plato, virtue is what made their worlds continue to turn. It was what they lived for and constantly tried to achieve; it was what they valued more than anything else. As I touched on previously, virtue is a fundamental quality of Confucian thinking. Every member of  a Confucian society is expected to be respectful, honest, trustworthy, and loyal. They should strive to be the best person that they can be in order to maximize the wellbeing of society as a whole. Without the concept of virtue, Confucianism as we know it would not exist. It was at the forefront of Confucius’ system of thinking and it influenced his every action. In the same way, virtue sat at the core of Plato’s being, and this is extremely evident in his writing. He depicted Socrates as a righteous person who does certain things simply because he knows they are the right things to do. For instance, after the oracle of Delphi proclaimed that he was the wisest man in Athens, he searched for a man wiser than him because he felt as if it were his duty to reveal the truth to the god. Likewise, during his trial, he refused to cry and put on a show for the jury because he knew that that would be morally wrong, even if it could save his life. Socrates always valued what was the most honorable over what produced the most desirable outcome. Clearly, being a virtuous individual was of the utmost importance to Plato, and he used Socrates to express this. In summary, the concept of virtue is extremely relevant in the Analects of Confucius and the Apology of Socrates. Both texts emphasize good character, morality, and integrity. Although the two authors came from very different backgrounds and preached different values, there are a lot of similarities in the way that the concept is discussed.