China: secondary philosophers (61): 2 steps 4 steps
Major or dominant philosophers upstream 0.6 1.0
Secondary philosophers upstream 1.0 1.7
Both kinds upstream 1.6 2.7Two links typically cover one’s own contemporaries plus the generation of
one’s mentors (although dense networks might use up 2 or more links in the
present). Four links allow for a more complicated chain.^14 In Figure 2.1
Kung-sun Lung is connected to Mencius, in the previous generation, through
several intermediaries; and Mencius himself connects back to Mo Ti 3 genera-
tions in the past.
The stars of Chinese philosophy existed in a neighborhood consisting of,
on the average, 2 major and an additional 2 secondary philosophers within
2 links of themselves; going backwards or outwards 4 links, each was typi-
cally connected to more than 6 other important thinkers. Major philosophers
who are not dominant stars are rather less well connected to other major
philosophers (they have slightly less than 1 tie two steps away, and slightly
more than 1 tie within 4 steps), although their connections to secondary
thinkers are almost as good as the stars’. And secondary philosophers are
connected backwards still more modestly, but above the level of minor phi-
losophers.
The Greeks are much the same:
Greece: dominant philosophers (8): 2 steps 4 steps
Number of major or dominant philosophers
upstream 1.8 3.9
Secondary philosophers upstream 4.1 8.3
Both kinds upstream 5.9 12.1Greece: major philosophers (20): 2 steps 4 steps
Major or dominant philosophers upstream 0.9 2.2
Secondary philosophers upstream 1.0 2.7
Both kinds upstream 1.9 4.9Greece: secondary philosophers (68): 2 steps 4 steps
Major or dominant philosophers upstream 0.7 1.6
Secondary philosophers upstream 1.5 2.9
Both kinds upstream 2.2 4.5The immediate neighborhood of the most eminent Greek philosophers is much
like that of their Chinese counterparts. These Greeks have even more connec-
tions with secondary figures than the Chinese do, so that within 4 links
Networks across the Generations • 67