Abstract

Confucius and Socrates were a primordial sense of the history of Western philosophy, the great philosopher, the two of them in academic status, birth age, academic background and other aspects have in common, Qu two exist in the nature of ethical thinking differences. This paper focuses analysis of two different ideas of ethics, were discussed on three levels; first two theories in general do take, they were answered, "How should" and "what is" two kinds of life, questioning, This is a moral distinction between science and moral philosophy; Secondly, from the two theories of the essence and kernel of view, "benevolence" and "virtue" are both pursuing the ultimate goal in life; Finally, from both moral practice way point of view, "self" and "know thyself" is clearly a move a quiet two different ways. Based on this comparison, the author finally reveals for the significance of this comparative study: the difference between the two is not only between the two philosophers, but also two different Chinese and Western ethics between traditional research methods