Mind-Benders of Greek & Roman History
Epicurus and the Confucian Sage Mencius Lived at the Same Time
While Epicurus was teaching the pursuit of a tranquil life in his Athenian Garden, the Confucian philosopher Mencius (Mengzi) was arguing in the courts of warring-states China that human nature is fundamentally good. Their lives overlapped for decades, a continent apart and unknown to each other.
How we know
Epicurus 341-270 BCE; Mencius (Mengzi) c.372-289 BCE. Their lifetimes overlap c.341-289 BCE, about 50 years. No contact of any kind, noted only as coincident dates.
One of many fact-checked wonders across eight traditions at The Spring of Wisdom.