[atmosx]

If you study the last 5k years, then the real question how on earth did the Europeans (primarily) and then the Americans managed to stay ahead of China for as long as they did (the "Needham Question").

Confucius came before Plato and most important discoveries came from China. The two wrote a the "good citizen" ought to be and how a city/country/empire ought to be run. Even meritocracy has been traditionally stronger in China, over centuries.

In the west we're talking about it since Homer, but in practice has been applied sporadically, while China has been much more consistent.