Eastern Philosophers vs Western Philosophers. Epic Rap Battles of History

Eastern Philosophers vs Western Philosophers. Epic Rap Battles of History
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#erb #epicrapbattles #EpicRapBattlesOfHistory #nietzsche #confucius
[Filmed on a Canon C500 camera, and Canon Compact Cinema Zoom Lens]
▼ CAST ▼
=========
Nietzsche: Nice Peter
www.nicepeter.com
/ nicepeter
Socrates: EpicLLOYD
www.epiclloyd.com
/ epiclloyd
Voltaire: Zach Sherwin
bit.ly/ZachSherw
Sun Tzu: Timothy DeLaGhetto
bit.ly/TimmyD
Confucius: MC Jin
bit.ly/McJin100
Laozi: KRNFX
bit.ly/KRNFX100
▼ CREW ▼
=========
Executive Producers:
Peter Shukoff and Lloyd Ahlquist
Co-Executive Producer:
Michelle Maloney
Directed by:
Nice Peter
Co-Director:
Mike Betette
bit.ly/BetetteYT
Co-Producer:
Atul Singh
First Assistant Director:
Carly Sturgeon
Written by:
EpicLLOYD, Nice Peter, Zach Sherwin, Timothy DeLaGhetto, MC Jin & KRNFX
Staff Writer:
Dante Cimadamore
bit.ly/DanteCYT
Writer:
Mike Betette
Song Produced by:
Nice Peter & Jose ""Choco"" Reynoso
Mixed by:
Nice Peter and Jose ""Choco"" Reynoso
Beat Produced by:
DiamondStyle.com
diamondstyle.com
Video Editing by:
Andrew Sherman, Ryan Moulton and Nice Peter
Director of Photography:
Jon Na
Costume Designer / Art Director:
Sulai Lopez
VFX and Compositing:
Andrew Sherman and Ryan Moulton
Dept. Head Make Up and Hair:
Ashlyn Melancon
Make Up Artist:
Ruth Haney
Make Up Artist:
Perri Sorel
Gaffer:
Kurt Schmidt
Music Supervisor/Playback:
Dante Cimadamore
Asst. Production Coordinator:
Shaun Lewin
Grip:
Yev Belilovsky
▼ LINKS ▼
=========
erbofhistory.com/
erbmerch.com
/ erbofhistory
/ erb
/ erb
nicepeter.com
epiclloyd.com

[@_hexes_]

All the philosophers end up arguing with each other... Sounds about right

[@GrimmReaperz95]

woosh

[@TRPD-hb3ui]

@@GrimmReaperz95 ?

[@leonardovadisirisak1069]

So I guess... the Hegelian dialectic seems to apply to even the most well-known of names. It’s a shame, I thought their would be at least truthful conformity.

[@GrimmReaperz95]

@@TRPD-hb3ui well that was philosophers do. They argue with each other with conflicting ideas and that was the one of points of the video. That's why they started arguing with each other.

[@richardsantanna5398]

@TrueGamerOpinion It's not ironic, dummy.

[@deimmartillo1674]

Socrates' rap: I started everything. Nietzsche's rap: I am the best. Laozi's rap: I am the humblest. Sun Tzu's rap: I am the smartest. Confucius's rap: I am the wisest. Voltaire's rap: I slept with more women than you all.

[@miccool9ice363]

Socrates:”I will pick apart your wu with my method man” Sun Tzu: [shit I better work fast or I am done for] For those that don’t know Socrates’ method was infamous for tearing apart things and breaking them done to components so flawed they became meaningless. Also his dominant presence allowed him to not only gain control but manipulated others into submission with ease (tactic did not hold up well in court when the jury was able take a moment and think without his influence)

[@siddhartashakara5240]

Being and becoming are, indeed, paths of distinct perspective. Therefore they cannot be, they may any be in the way of becoming and manifesting. But yeah, Voltaire was such a P.I.M.P

[@altaccountorg7261]

“If the ladies were ugly it doesn’t count” Sun tzu the art of war

[@major2026]

@@miccool9ice363 That line was also a pun on Method Man which was by the Wu Tang Clan.

[@miccool9ice363]

@@major2026 So it was a triple entendre, Awesome

[@legoyoda9782]

"Your ego's just so distracting, free speech doesn't mean just keep yapping" I feel like a lot of people could learn from this lol

[@filipesugden1982]

"liberal west"

[@legoyoda9782]

@@filipesugden1982 What?

[@Demortra]

@@legoyoda9782 He was attempting to claim the liberal west does not shut up while claiming free speech, when it is just about anyone who feels their opinion is the correct one.

[@tailoreaguilar7331]

Preach, my dude, PREACH!

[@user-ms9pu3vg6d]

Fax

[@j4xxonl]

"Let me be frank, don't start beef with the frank, who hangs with B. Franks, giving ladies beef franks" is the best wordplay since miss carriage and birthmarks

[@gengarzilla1685]

It's just a shame that this only came out after they were all tricked into infighting.

[@ohno3736]

If I see one more comment about the Miss Carriage line

[@Frosty-1029]

Best wordplay in ERB history

[@Jeff_Biden]

@@ohno3736 its way too overrated

[@tacodias]

@@Frosty-1029somebody said…. birthmarks?!

[@yaswantha.1468]

"Bitch, I wrote the art of War" -Sun Tzu, Art of War

[@Nugcon]

My favorite quote

[@patricialie6631]

@@Nugcon you mean the best quote

[@quicksilver1646]

I read it recently, and had no idea so much of it could be translated to technoblades videos

[@dougdaledimmadomeownerofth4105]

Sun tzu said that and I think he knows a lot more about war then you considering he invented it

[@el760]

So you better get your guns out

[@KYOH777]

That SARS joke aged better than I would’ve liked (edit: wow. Still relevant in 09/21) 😒

[@andyjc9535]

sheesh lmao

[@romarssieverything9667]

lolol

[@chrislowe447]

Chillll🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chickencollection2318]

i love that SARS joke

[@thenjdevilsfanatic]

Kyoh you’re right

[@BlewBerri]

Sun Tzu telling Confucius’ eyebrows to fit better on his face whilst his are halfway up his forehead is pure comedic gold.

[@lysipiggy3911]

You always teach what you Most have to learn .

[@kaizoisevil]

And then Confucius talks about the to-go box hat when his hat looks more like a to-go box

[@lots_of_people]

@@lysipiggy3911 so you are saying jesus needs to learn more about religions?

[@BaneTheMan]

​@@lots_of_peopleKinda yeah

[@bobspot6534]

“Because I’m N I E T Z S C H E! And I’ll end any motherfucker like my name in a spelling bee!” By far one of the best lines in ERB history

[@amadeus1604]

2:19 For relevant time stamp

[@osurac14vlb]

this line unironically helped me learn how to spell it lol

[@Dante2056]

That and Stephen Hawking's, "There are 10 million, million, million, million, million, million, million particles in the universe that we can observe." (I may have missed a million or two)

[@salifscott4664]

It's definitely one of the lines ever

[@mr_pigman1013]

@@Dante2056yo mama took the ugly ones and put them into one nerd

[@Guanchen]

Who won? nobody because there is no victory in philosophy, only confusion.

[@collinlongeill5979]

Lol good one

[@parksschmidt1816]

well, your right. But there was a GUY NAMED CONFUSIUS! REMINDS ME OF CONFUSION!!

[@SanicStudios]

Confucius-on.

[@user-eo1pi3pn6n]

+Nobby1967 Games, Music And More confucius-Won

[@OfOurLife]

You confuse confusion with illumination. You have no idea what the enlightment is do you? Philosophy is a way of life that solves problems it does not create....wtf is wrong with some people....thats why we luck philosophy teachings in our days so we can get confuced.The exact opposite of what you wrote applies in reality and in our times.

[@randomthings5383]

Voltaire: *tries to calm down socrates* Socrates: *insults Voltaire* Voltaire: *So you have chosen...death*

[@WBlake-vy3qq]

Can't like this comment as oft as I want

[@mungunshagaibuyantugs8189]

No it’s wrong Voltaire: So you have chosen...Beef Frank

[@b3nt079]

Gotta serve your Frank's hard

[@user-sv7lh3qs7g]

Voltaire: *B E E F* *F R A N K*

[@616Regis]

@@mungunshagaibuyantugs8189 Death by Beef Frank :-P

[@MrGetownedLP]

Potentially the best ERB 100%. The fact the philosophers turn on each other eventually because they are so obsessed with discussion, the switch up of the ending "WHAT IS WINNING?" LMAO... and MC Jin holding in his laughter at the very end when he delivers the last line is just the icing on the cake - BEST ERB TRUE

[@meganleslie9069]

I think most philosophers are more obsessed with their own brilliance than the argument itself.

[@leighasbell3624]

Yeah, the "WHAT IS WINNING?" just goes to show that this battle WAS a tie, but is DEFINITELY the best ERB.

[@Shreyy17]

Now I see that he was about to laugh at the end 😂

[@Skan735]

The irony of Nietzsche's bar making me remember exactly how to spell his name while saying that spelling his name is impossible is not lost on me. Thank you for the mnemonic, ERB.

[@giorgosskordilis7004]

The beat dropped harder than democracy in Greece

[@greekmemezelos6098]

Sergeant George omg xD

[@ethankim2679]

Yes!

[@kkoron7908]

Sergeant George ooh haha you are so funny..h..aha..ha...-_- fuck off nolifer

[@giorgosskordilis7004]

Andreas Konstantinos ,μάλιστα ...

[@kkoron7908]

Sergeant George wste ellinas e?

[@arolemaprarath3248]

When 6 smart students got a different answers.

[@panaliv712]

If they were.reslly smart they end up either with 1 or 2 opinions between them or with the same, all, obviously, really smart people integrate many layers of a topic and combine it with facts of all types, and their extensions combined with projection to probabilistic outcomes.. (drd1-4, histamine and glutamate of the same parts) = the above, likely, and perhaps for sume no shit.. (still too much varience even with childhood etc included as factors is the least possible so..)

[@thecat293]

This is actually true, every reply before me forgot to take that these students are philosophy students lmao

[@greatestgianni]

Like half of them got one and the other half got another but when they start to talk about it they each got the answer with different methods and start arguing

[@Seriousgaymer]

6 smart students dont exist

[@luisyupari]

@@panaliv712 The problem with smart people is that it gives a tendency to be a little arrogant. And they don't play well with others.

[@DR-ts4eh]

Funny that after all these years I still find myself going back to this one. One of the best ERB's ever done.

[@acutelilmint8035]

It’s catchy

[@SevenSiIIySins]

Same there’s just so many meanings behind each line it’s crazy

[@fammyboy7519]

the 'What is winning?' at the end really got me.

[@OcarinaOfTime]

Philosophy students when they're drunk:

[@1stpowermasterdestroyer98]

100th like

[@Alienlover859]

I want to like it, but the burnout philosopher in me doesn't want to disrupt them 420 likes.

[@ryanmuller4996]

Who the hell studies philosophy lmao 💀

[@ohivonmenisunuoya]

@@ryanmuller4996 people, that's who

[@tjrex9458]

@@Alienlover859 You're making me cetic, *How can i be sure you press like on it UHMMMMM?*

[@FrozenShadow007]

Best Outfit: Voltaire Best Flow: Confucius Best Eyebrows: Sun Tzu Best Disses: Socrates Best Beat: Laozi Spelling Bee Winner: Nietzsche

[@hasukiixrd1511]

Confucius is Jin .. of course he had best flow

[@cascadienne634]

Nailed it

[@ytuser4562]

spelling bee winner made me wheeze

[@ytuser4562]

Overall winner: History

[@alexisbouquet3351]

Losers: Nietzche's mustache and Confucius' eyebrows

[@birisuandrei1551]

Sun Tzu and Nietzsche are the MVP's, for making the enemy team battle eachother instead, and Nietzsche for legit being Nietzsche, he's a Riot 😂

[@Eph_Wilson]

At 2:35 you can see Sun Tzu sneaking over to watch them with binoculars. The "turn them on themselves" precept he teaches is generally titled "OBSERVE Fire From Opposite Shore." It all fits!

[@DaveZilla02]

Ah, the ancient Chinese art of... beatboxing...

[@nvrguru22]

Lol and the guy playing him is Korean

[@KiwiImpactSaint]

NVR guru Korea inherited more Chinese cultures than modern China. True fact.

[@sthsfngsj]

True that Korea was largely infuenced from ancient China, but it doesnt mean Korea was once part of China. Chinese empires didnt bother Koreans maintain their independent rule.

[@wansimon2266]

Derrick Liu Because most Chinese people today don't care about their traditional culture,especially youngsters.Even some cultures have been gradually forgotten by people, it would be better some people could inherite them,thus these cultures will never disappear.

[@KiwiImpactSaint]

Ini Miney I have, honestly.

[@henryalister9115]

Best flow: the West Best disses: the East Overall winner: Human civilization Overall loser: Spelling bee participants

[@shanedog007]

The spelling Bee part is why I come back to this, it's soo hilarious and out of place, and also SCARY! 🤣

[@shannimonet]

Broooooooooooo

[@Dabadi4834]

2:21

[@calowenby1654]

“And I’ll end any motherfucker like my name in a spelling bee!,” is still one of my favorite ERB lines.

[@vertrix1079]

i love how this insinuates that spelling bee participants arent a part of human civalization

[@NastyCheesyBurp]

2:57 A bowl is most useful when it is empty because there are more possibilities with it. If you had a bowl full of cereal, that would eliminate the possibilities of it being filled with soup or ramen, but if it was an empty bowl there is more possibilities.

[@IAOIceland1984]

However an empty bowl serves no purpose it is only hypothetically useful, once you've filled it with something now it is fulfilling it's purpose and is of much more use

[@sanvan5245]

You need to fill your bowl with some shit that makes some sense

[@cloroxbleach9222]

To this day Im still shocked at how deep and well researched ERB raps are, there are so many layers of history hidden in the lyrics it makes these so rewatchable even if you know the entire story

[@michealflaithbheartaigh4139]

The fact that Sun Tzu actually performed the Art of War by turning them on themselves was amazing

[@ryangrear3430]

so much in this video is perfect especially that they all turn on themselves since really none of these people would actually like each other as they all have drastically different opinions on the world (Socrates and Confucius are probably the most similar and even the they really aren't all that close) and yea sun tzu recognizing that and exploiting it also makes sense

[@Zenovarse]

@@ryangrear3430 Confucius and Laozi were people of the same period by popular history, and Laozi was a very much respected by Confucius, and they have had many discussions. Laozi mainly came up when Confucius's students asked him something and he would quote Laozi as an authoritative figure. E.g. in The Family Sayings of Confucius, Jikangzi asked Confucius: "I have long heard the names of the five emperors, yet I do not know what they are. I beg to ask therefore: what are the five emperors?" Confucius said: "In the past I have heard Laozi saying: 'There are five elements in this world: gold, wood, water, fire, earth and they combined and made all things. The Gods of these elements, Shaohao, Taihao, Zhuanxu, Yandi, Huangdi, are called the five emperors.'"

[@user-sj9sd3ym3f]

@@Zenovarse As a Chinese, I have to say the Sunzi (孙子) is not always considered as a philosophy in China，actually I would recommend Mozi (墨子) join in the battle. If you do not know who he is , well, he is more like some kind of commie in 3000 years ago. He favours something like Practice, equation, organization and discipline (Russian theme playing)

[@thebackup2121]

Love The Art of War, and love ERB's attention to detail leading to the battles developing in such a natural, intelligent and entertaining way 😄

[@dan-us6nk]

@@user-sj9sd3ym3f COMMMIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE (buck rounds gunshots and deep fry noises)

[@raunaklanjewar677]

This Nietzsche looks more Nietzsche than the original Nietzsche.

[@kuramazov]

how do you even pronounce his name correctly?

[@sarthakrawat7748]

@@kuramazov its knee cha

[@capitaopacoca8454]

@@sarthakrawat7748 onee chan?

[@sarthakrawat7748]

@@capitaopacoca8454 yare yare daze

[@classicchessplayer7068]

@@sarthakrawat7748 No knee che.(unless your British)

[@Eternaldreadz]

Currently taking philosophy in college .. and this came out when I was 15. Now coming back to get some fact, and recount the knowledge I’ve learned on all of these philosophers 😂

[@invincible4u]

😂😂

[@Enzomacarrao]

I honestly think this one holds up as one of the best battles in erb history. So well made!

[@randyjones3050]

I like how this battle mirrors every philosophical debate on the internet. It starts out on point then devolves into comparing someone to Hitler and telling them to suck balls.

[@mariustan9275]

Yeah

[@aj9777]

One big part of that. "Internet". Tells you all you need to know lol

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

What did people get compared to before Hitler.

[@aj9777]

@@Halcon_Sierreno evil was not conceived before Hitler's birth

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

@@aj9777 That's ignorant.

[@hittaque]

sun tzu: war confusious: respect lao tzu: wisdom voltare: *sex*

[@nantha7357]

Well that is why Voltaire would always win.

[@matrixphijr]

Hotel: Trivago

[@daltonheidelberg3189]

Me too

[@f.nietzsche620]

@@redneckbwaoi2739 Every word i read from that is: "I wanna sex, i dont care, sex with hairy woman with baguettes oui oui"

[@ArmyCNM]

*claps slowly*

[@seanblack3919]

I like how they delivered bigger burns against their own teamates than against the other team.

[@nosneb_]

Easily one of my favorite ERB rap battles

[@bagah.s4908]

After all this time i realised that Nietzsche didn't turn on Socrates just for the plot, in reality , Nietzsche really hated the ideas of Socrates

[@idonnow2]

Then Socrates gets mad at Nietzsche for calling him "plebe" not because of the insult at face value but because the Athenian plebe literally voted for him to be executed, which is one of the main reasons why Plato would subsequently be critical of democracy as the rule of the mob

[@isaiahwilson4943]

Damn, ERB put some deep thought into these raps.

[@caffemocca8855]

My favorite rap battle. Of course it's deep.

[@lewistranmer2399]

Isaiah Wilson they always do. Based on how well you know your history the better their videos are. If You know the ins and outs then the raps get 3x as complex

[@Hlodolog]

Indeed, he was one of the first to actually dedicate his studies to pre-socratic philosophers.

[@TotallyNotJustCynical]

A battle of philosophers could only really end in them all squabbling amongst themselves. I love it.

[@betaversion1029]

The number of likes you already have show the amount of revisits this thing gets

[@the_j_machine2254]

My comments never get that many likes on new videos. You got this many on an old video. By the way, Nietzsche is best and Sun Tzu is worst.

[@diomarmorales6303]

No one is gonna talk about Timmy delaghetto being on this

[@jacksonsainsbury8523]

"1:48"

[@Mauxbius]

I feel like a philosopher would debate you on that

[@Sofa_Muncher]

this is probably my favourite ERB of all time, so harmonius and it just exploded into chaos. Masterful work

[@AppleAPlusAntApplebeesAAABatte]

agreed, i loved the part where Voltaire said "Let me be frank: don't start beef with the Frank, Who hangs with B. Franks, giving ladies beef franks!"

[@bernkastel7438]

1:55 The best part, the flow here is just sooo yesss

[@xp_studios7804]

The fact that Socrates, Voltaire, and Nietzsche didn't devolve into yelling at each other until halfway through is honestly an incredible achievement

[@rileyjweigelt]

Y'all forgot that Sun Tzu was in this, right? Ik it was a joke, but I'm just saying HE was the main reason the West started fighting each other

[@elysahatestostudy9364]

The unity of racism

[@Xilir2009]

​@@elysahatestostudy9364 You symbolize the unity of stupidity

[@TheSuperSlavOfHistory]

​@@elysahatestostudy9364 Nah bro, no unity of racism without the austrian painter leading it

[@taurock96]

Europe be like "Let's celebrate what unites us all : Xenophobia !"

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

"Move bitch, get out the way!" This is the best crossover in history.

[@vwgames49]

I thought you were dead

[@varun2904]

@@vwgames49 he comes in every video of ERB when US presidents come.

[@DustyDaniel]

@@varun2904 he wasn't in trump vs biden

[@rogergonie1251]

@@vwgames49 he catched the bullet with his skull

[@johnkennedy9163]

@Keyan Halfacre True, he really doesn't.

[@princesssilvosa521]

This will always be my favourite Rap Battle. Idk why I'm so hooked to this rap battle (its excellent and addicting). And I'll gladly let myself be hooked to this hahaha

[@realgod1002]

i wanna say this is 1 of the best rap battles to show how amazing the costume makers are. the costumes for the Western Philosophers are so well detailed

[@kaen_tqk3918]

Sun Tzu: *successfully turns their opponents against themselves* Lao Tzu: *I'm about to ruin our victory*

[@kikiretzorg1467]

Laozi's remark actually flew over Sun Tzu's head. It basically translates to "we win by doing nothing at this point, so let's just not fuck it up."

[@clockworkkirlia7475]

@@kikiretzorg1467 "So long as nobody starts *us* arguing, they'll destroy themselves." "LEEEROOOOY-"

[@bestpseudonym1693]

@Daniel von Strangle The more accurate translation of Las Tzu's famous saying is "it's the empty space that makes the bowl useful" which like much of eastern philosophy has both metaphorical and literal meaning; metaphorically it sort-of means an absence of an action is sometimes more powerful than acting.

[@Jake-dh9qk]

@@bestpseudonym1693 Ironically, Lao Tzu shouldn't have brought up the empty bowl rhetoric because that was the opposite of not doing anything.

[@lowlsqwid]

@@Jake-dh9qk he was just sayin just sit back and vibe as they destroy themselves. No point in using a bowl still filled with shit.

[@mattdisagoat9196]

"I'll end any motherfucker like like my name in a spelling bee." -Fucking great, just fucking great

[@ashthecash5076]

Excel Ghent j

[@soare776]

Icedude00 Captain ?

[@carmelarouk]

it means "Nietzsche' is a difficult name to spell, and it'll be a slight surprise if it was used in a spelling bee competition

[@robochop1957]

Icedude00 not really

[@chinsaw2727]

Icedude00 I agree

[@anoNEMOs]

"These white boys getting burned, cause guess what, now the Sun's out" is an incredible verse! So many meanings: He calls them "white boys" because they're European, therefore pale, so they get sunburn easily, and at the same time says they blanched with fear because he destroyed them with his words. "Burned" is obvious: getting sunburn from rising sun, or getting defeated/insulted by Sun Tzu "The Sun's out" not only means that Sun Tzu just rose like sun and started his battle, but also refers to Asia itself because the sun rises in the east.

[@CoreyANeal2000]

If you listen to music. A lot of songs use concepts like this if your paying attention.

[@anoNEMOs]

@@CoreyANeal2000 Yeah. I always love it when some verse just keeps giving you more and more meanings when you listen to it and think about it.

[@CoreyANeal2000]

​​@anonemos Word to the Wise Matt Corman. Is pretty good. All the Things I Hate About You Huddy. Is also good. This if you have the context of how those songs came to be.

[@CoreyANeal2000]

BET ON ME ITZY. If you understand science behind thinking.

[@anoNEMOs]

@@CoreyANeal2000 Oh, thanks!

[@gowhite]

Easily one THE most sick beats in ERB history! 🔥🔥

[@Zero21kr]

Damn, this East Coast West Coast shit has been going on since the dawn of time...

[@Nabo42]

I laughed way harder at this than I should have.

[@jessicachanning2447]

🏆

[@user-od8vx2ei9g]

i’m crying 👏👏👏😂

[@joshuaswanson1977]

This comment is greatly underrated.

[@akianderson4913]

Oh damn, Such Perspective! Hahaha

[@brandonhughes4076]

I love that all the others drop some life philosophy shit while Sun Tzu, in true fashion, came to throw hands

[@killme5630]

Bro wrote the art of throwing hands what do you expect

[@a_person5853]

And Voltaire's rap was just he slept with more women so

[@b2w3w]

@@a_person5853 Thats kinda all that Voltaire did, other than like just writing letters about "we should be allowed to speak freely" which is what john locke already did

[@DickEnchilada]

@Bidoofen hold on, he also wrote Candide which was an attack on Leibniz's "best of all possible worlds" through the mechanism of Pangloss. Saying he was only about free speech undermines Voltaire tbh

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@midoriyee]

Nietzsche's part unironially helped me remember his name's spelling on a test

[@JustJakeTravel]

I understand a lot more now getting older and its even better than when i first watched/listened. Erb is art. Erb is a gift

[@markmcarthur5090]

Sun Tzu turned the Western Philosophers on themselves so they would be easier to beat. Then, he immediately starts insulting the Eastern Philosophers, and turns the Eastern Philosophers against each other too. It was all the same plan, Sun Tzu has turned everyone on everyone and will inevitably win.

[@Serminator30]

But Confuzius let EVERYONE Holding his Fortune Cookies.

[@Cowinator66]

I like the fact he was in the background watching the Western Philosophers self-destruct

[@chloeprice9649]

*Yeah, this is big brain time*

[@demonking86420]

In the end, nothing matters. Nietzsche's technically correct.

[@samoneill6733]

Is that the plot of the art of war book?

[@hernandezpachecoguillermo3551]

In this battle, Lao Tzu was highly loyal to his own philosophy, with quotes like "a bowl is more useful when it is empty" (in the Tao Te Ching, he says that pretending to be wise is a sickness, and admiting to be ignorant is the first step to the cure), "get out The Way" (this seemingly simple quote summarizes the whole philosophy of Lao: The Way (Tao) is the natural order of the world, and hindering or breaking it leads to chaos; if someone wants to live in peace and harmony, he needs to let things be and do not try to change them), and the fact that he almost did not rap anything (in Taoism, the way to live according to the Tao is the Wu Wei: an effortless action or inaction) On the other hand, Sun Tzu was way more warmongering and aggresive towards the Westerns (as it was expected), while Confucius tried to keep on the tradition of the rap battle (because Confucius' philosophy is based in the order and harmony throughout the social hierarchy, honor, ceremonies and traditions). Well done, ERB, you did your homework! :) Greetings from Mexico.

[@Imanfly]

Great analysis, i hadn't noticed some of that before

[@AliensAreNoobs]

The sun tzu stuff was pretty obvious and I picked up on the Confucius thing after a few rewatches but never picked up on Lao Tzu, pretty cool stuff!

[@petchpoonpoon3596]

Wow this is really interesting may I ask which book or where are the sources you got it from? Really interesting:)

[@hernandezpachecoguillermo3551]

@@petchpoonpoon3596 Mainly the Tao Te Ching, although it is a little difficult to read.

[@snowythesnowball182]

Muchas gracias por la metódica y detallada explicación, hermano. Es digno de admirar que estés tan familiarizado con la filosofía oriental, no es algo común en México.

[@hatchetman3662]

This is one of the best you guys ever dropped. I love the beat.

[@adamgoss3638]

I do have one question, why does Sun Tzu make fun of Confucius' eyebrows when HE's the one with the extreme eyebrows, and Confucius talks about Sun's "to-go-box hat" when Confucius is the only one wearing a hat??

[@SevenSiIIySins]

FR LOL

[@bernirn]

Here is just characterization, but IRL, Confucius's eyebrows grew outside his face and Sun Tzu used to wear a small, square box-like hat.

[@invincible4u]

@@bernirn 😭

[@MegaPurp]

"Bitch I wrote The Art of War, so you better get your guns out, these white boys getting burned, cause guess what, now the Sun's out" This may be the best line ever of ERB

[@dylanokouchi2011]

😂😂

[@guymann856]

Vader's first verse in Vader vs Hitler 3 will always be the best verse

[@yourlocalt72]

nope that is ''i will pay a guy to tear out my eyes if i had to look your troll face every night'' in ivan the terrible vs alexander the great

[@pretendthisisabettername4572]

SilverHairedFreak25 Agreed.

[@pretendthisisabettername4572]

ᖫalphaᖭ Ɲω Uh . . . okay then.

[@aamnainfebruary]

You know you’ve grown intellectually when you revisit an ERB rap battle and are actually understanding it

[@automaticcreation2271]

Yessir

[@loupeuu]

Damn so much, they work so much for all or there songs

[@simplicitas5113]

Lao Tzu is the greateat of these irl no cap

[@belckroz1952]

God deamn hello

[@iforget6940]

​​​@@simplicitas5113 like all of them but Nietzsche calls out more to me becuase he gave form to what i have felt and provides a way to get over it and that anzi thing was all his sisters doing i have just watched lectures of these guys but my plan is to still read them. But loa tzu is one my favorite philosophers.

[@harubutjojo]

It's crazy how much though they put into this battle. With each rappers lyrics matching their state of philosophy, they way each "rival" was placed against each other due to the clashes in their styles of philosophy, Sun Tzu using the art of war to turn the westerners on themselves only for the easterners' own clashes in their way of thinking also causing conflict. Even including some modern rap references with Method Man and Move Bitch the latter of which was also used as a double entendre to reference the work thay Lao Tzu had made. They really put thought into every single line. Easy top 5 battle.

[@RoccoSocko]

This is probably one of the most fire ERB videos

[@Coratlan]

I thought Lao Tzu's "move bitch get out the way" line was random but i just learned that Dao from daoism (the philosophy Lao Tzu contributed to) means "The way"

[@Sojju7]

Well daoism is more like a spiritual path that has a clear philosophy, not strictly a philosophy

[@piotrgorski5384]

Yeah. We get that reference 5 years ago. It was very clever.

[@ceral1079]

Not only that - when Lao Tzu wanted to leave "China" (he just traveled further to the West and was never seen again) a guy guarding some border blocked his path. Wanting prove that it is indeed LT, LT procceeded to write down his entire philosophy just to get him out of the way. At least that's what Richard Wilhelm wrote in his preface of the Dao de Ging, if I remember correctly. It's been a while

[@Sojju7]

@@ceral1079 yeah but as a Taoist myself I must say to you that this tale is a myth, a symbolic teaching of Lao Tzu wisdom. Probably never happened, the very existence of Lao Tzu is debatable. He may be himself a symbolic figure to represent a tradition of sage masters that discovered the nature of the Tao. He is considered by Taoist the perfect immortal, the model to reach in order to be in union with the Tao.

[@ceral1079]

@@Sojju7 Oh I know that chances are he as in an individual didn't exist, which is why I referred to the preface. I should have been more specific about the "probably never happened" part, that's true. Thanks for the clarification!

[@panpan3303]

That bit on the end “what is winning?” Is criminally underated

[@thirun779]

True. Never noticed it till now.

[@captainpuff1238]

Nice

[@boehrb]

Perhaps the most poignant part

[@Raz.C]

"Me No Third Reichy" is too!!!

[@dershogun6396]

[insert philosophy_joke here]

[@Dubstepper]

I love these team battles cuz I feel like so much is happening that you can get like mini-side battles out if it.

[@Unhelpful_Goose]

I can't believe it's been 10 years! Honestly mental how this popped up in my feed Pure nostalgia!

[@MrFancy-rs3qy]

History teacher: so what happened to the philosophers Me: well it's complicated

[@thepanther212]

Mr. Fancy I just laughed my head of when I read this please tell me you came up with that

[@coffinfeeder7732]

Philosophers still exist, little jimmy... it isn’t an arcane title relegated to the men of old, there just hasn’t been many with the cultural significance of those presented in the video since.

[@Cadomi]

Joe Jane Its a joke comment...

[@kev1257ful]

Joe Jane I think the most famous modern-day philosopher would have to be Zizek, his personality sets him apart from the rest

[@coffinfeeder7732]

Cadomi It’s a really, really, really, shitty attempt at humor bereft of any thought.

[@m1a181]

"A rap of a thousand words, starts with a single sick beat" - Lao Tzu

[@dyslexicbatman6234]

Words of wisdom

[@emmanuelbanda6359]

Dope

[@iancuPotcoava24]

@@emmanuelbanda6359 sorry but wasn't Ghandi the one who said something similar to that?

[@bluntstealer420]

@Mr.BlitsyBuss Wtf?

[@nordy4981]

Mr.BlitsyBuss Um don’t post that in comments...

[@aaronsirois7032]

Oh my god. I’ve watched this like thirty times over the years and now just got that Uber pun.

[@atilacalil9734]

This is pure gold oh god❤

[@silenthero101]

Kinda love that they started fighting when Nietzsche insulted Socrates, cause that's essentially how he started his career. Birth of tragedy my dudes.

[@djehutisundaka7998]

Kinda love the way they started with that Nietzsche insultin' Socrates. That's how his career started, Will to Birth of a Big Tragedy!

[@awobbie.3140]

So wait. “Birth of Tragedy” was at the beginning of Nietzche’s career and they didn’t make a line in the battle that pointed this out? They really missed an opportunity. Something like, “The beginning of your career was the Birth of a Tragey,” although obviously more lyricized and eloquent.

[@justkev633]

nietzsche never really had a career in philosophy, he only became popular after he died

[@Sepazuzu]

Just Kev well he was unpopular in his time that’s for sure but he did try to contribute to philosophy in his life before he went loco

[@cosminblk8359]

@@justkev633 Technically, nobody had a career in philosophy. They get money bases on their books, so they are basically they were unnimployed (unlike Ancient Greece, where the philosophers were really appriciated by the society because they were the masters of many domains)

[@tigerwolf2243]

Winner: Sun Tsu Loser: Also Sun Tsu He divided the other team, than he divided his own.

[@Madara_Uchiha69420]

Sun Tzu perfectly performed art of war with perfect sense of perfection

[@mariustan9275]

@@Madara_Uchiha69420 Pretty much

[@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014]

His success went to far

[@mirceapintelie361]

was he a mathematician?🤔

[@volkanbora9849]

Lao Tzu divided his team, Sun Tzu just continued. Winner: Confichus

[@nathanrichardson8402]

Oh my gosh, this is absolutely the best video I have ever watched in my entire life! I had my eyes full of tears both because of the truth but also because of the laughter… These men are just incredibly gifted, and I’ve just watched the first video. I have no idea if there are others but I am now their greatest fan.

[@DrJohnPollard]

ONE of the best of the many BESTs.

[@lesbos4tony]

Spelling Bee: Your word is “Nietzsche” ERB fans: *now this looks like a job for me*

[@user-ho2sp6hb1t]

Why was this actually a good joke

[@supersonic_tumbleweed]

*So everybody just follow me* *’Cause we need a little controversy* *’Cause it feels so empty without me*

[@kochoshinobu1452]

*So everybody just follow me* *Cause we need a little controversy* *Cause it feels so empty without me!*

[@charlesnichols9952]

If this happened to me I really don't think I could stop myself from saying "and I'll end any motherfucker like my name in a spelling bee" and I'm not sure what the judges would think of that

[@thegodofallakira6349]

Charles Nichols I said that in class once on accident

[@thomasjenkins7506]

this one isn't settled yet. needs more.

[@petertraicer]

+Thomas Jenkins PLEASEEEEE

[@ellenmayo2233]

+Thomas Jenkins YEEEEES

[@mari-fc4ec]

+Thomas Jenkins This needs rematch!

[@maxsmith8196]

+Thomas Jenkins grass mask?

[@theejabroni]

They better get Dumbfoundead on the next one if they do

[@thuytran-io1wf]

Undisputedly the best ERB in my opinion

[@1985ArchitectHakenFan]

This is one of the most epic ERB’s

[@LlamaSupreme]

Probably the best battle when it comes to lyrics and references they've done. Pure genius.

[@ChrisKoraltan]

not to mention the best arrangement making a 3 on 3 battle

[@LukaM0]

agree

[@dacypher22]

Yep you can tell there was some serious studying on this one and I honestly think 3 or 4 of their best lines ever are packed in about 2 minutes of this battle.

[@benpaton5796]

It is not just the epic references but also the fact that the references are the criticisms that are proffered.

[@MegaRenegade1000]

can't believe i never seen this one before... quite hilarious...

[@Jokaanan]

"laozi i don't mean no disrespect but you need to fill your bowl with some shit that makes some sense" i died

[@yesindeed922]

Jokanaan I'm outta heal packs tho 😢

[@michaelgao5646]

Jokanaan The best part was Lao Tzu in the background

[@andromedamarch4943]

I died at 3:09

[@Romellenios_Lanz_Daemos]

After watching a vid about wu wei, now I understand.

[@phrogy_1992]

@@yesindeed922 What about,"why don't you tell your eyebrows they need to fit better on your face!" LOL

[@les6447]

One of ERB's most creative rap battles to this date, especially now that we all understand what these philosophical greats were talking about.

[@ambassadorprime9821]

I said it before but this is what introduced me to this channel and still stands on top as one of THE HARDEST episodes hands down. If this was what all debates of mind were like I'd be in he front row lol

[@donFranko99]

After watching this 374 times ive noticed little Sun smiling in the background when westeners starts to argue and its absolutely hilarious

[@donFranko99]

Even more impressive is that after 5 years you still read the comments under your videos, im honestly honored

[@cigarettes_and_lollipops]

and taking pics hahah

[@narindrathalia6422]

At watch time?

[@KalosianParadox]

@@narindrathalia6422 Around 2:43 lol

[@thurmanthomas8342]

Lol

[@WashingMachine.]

I love how after Nietzsche and Socrates argue, Nietzsche just turns around and starts plotting like hes gonna murder him

[@dispensergoinup]

he def was

[@italianbuffoon9953]

then when the frank segment starts he just turns around violently

[@AppleAPlusAntApplebeesAAABatte]

@@italianbuffoon9953 "Let me be Frank! Don't start beef with the Frank! Who hangs with B. Franks giving ladies Beef Franks!"

[@saucy743]

@@AppleAPlusAntApplebeesAAABatte Voltaire was a great womanizer

[@zyriantel9601]

@@AppleAPlusAntApplebeesAAABatte Incidentally, I just got an ad for hot dogs at the end of this video. XD

[@leighasbell3624]

Every line in this battle is so frickin savage. That's what makes it so good!

[@AndresHughesSalavera]

After all these years, this is still the best one.

[@peaceloveandlightworker8958]

I've never forgotten how to spell "Nietzsche" since watching this video

[@Yvaelle]

Though I'm sure the other kids at the spelling bee were pretty intimidated when you threatened to 'end them' :)

[@antraut839]

me too

[@jkyle1018]

It's my favorite part of the song and the only reason I can spell his name.

[@kaitospin3944]

I still can't lol

[@levoncook5529]

lmao

[@LukaM0]

This is the best ERB ever made... nietzsche is fucking savage.

[@rainwmv]

true

[@hamiamsandwitch6571]

No the russian one is

[@olivial247]

Who's the Russian one?? O.o

[@hamiamsandwitch6571]

+Olivia L rap battle im talking about

[@isolatedfleet9369]

It's up there but I think Jim Henson vs Stan Lee is better

[@potipotiron]

Coming back to this ERB out of pure nostalgia, it now feels like an Age of Empires 2 chatroom with players trashing each other with some mild roleplay

[@ThePikminCaptain]

0:12 Western Philosophers 0:38 Eastern Philosophers 1:04 Western Philosophers 2 1:42 Eastern Philosophers 2 2:14 Western Philosophers 3 2:52 Eastern Philosophers 3

[@gagejoseph91]

It's official. This is my favorite Rap Battle. No competition. This particular subject is really hard to write for, and they did both sides so perfectly equally. Both in execution and concept, this has made my #1 favorite Rap Battle. Wonderful.

[@Flyingdragon71]

100% agreed

[@NCN2069]

+gagejoseph91 yeeeeeeeessssss confucius destroyed them

[@aznhmongleader]

+gagejoseph91 Agreed! They nailed that Eastern philosophy down generically!

[@noname-ds7pl]

so true

[@irrational18]

+gagejoseph91 I completely agree.

[@redmystery3.143]

honestly the end of this rap is fairly clever, namely in the fact that there is no way any of these man on either side would ever work together due to just how vastly different thier philosophys are.

[@kaibrattan3568]

@@banditaviation1924 Naw dawg, I gotta disagree with you there. Philosophers arguing shouldn't be seen as a condemnation of humanity, but rather as a testament to how our species continues searching for truth without relent.

[@mr.equity1120]

@@banditaviation1924 But the main topic was the philosophers, and you were clearly talking about them when you said that : Even if they would have agreed they still would have argued. So how does humanity as a whole come into the picture? Furthermore what Kai is saying is that they might indeed have argued in this fictional scenario however he disagrees with your negative view on the matter because arguments should not be seen as a negative element. They allow the interchange of concepts, ideas and values. Therefore, it’s a direct demonstration of the endless search of truth by man. I do agree with you though, humanity can often exhibit cruel and evil behavior, arguing not being one of them.

[@pokenbby]

@@banditaviation1924 misanthropist loser

[@polishrepublic5055]

Nietzsche and Voltaire can work together but without Socrates.

[@CHRF-55457]

@Meng Hao hehe. yes, respect your elders...

[@Reaper......]

8 years later and this still is 🔥

[@DonPinkman-bh4px]

Muy buen rap jder, es tan épico

[@specialunit0428]

"give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." -Lao Tzu "the opportunity of defeat lies in our own hands. but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself" -Sun Tzu "a man who moves a mountain begins to carry away small stones." -Confucius "that which does not kill us makes us stronger." -Nietzsche "there is only one good: knowledge, and only one evil: ignorance" -Socretes "judge of a man his questions, not his answers" -Voltaire

[@AdonMaster]

very underrated comment... thanks

[@masterphoenixharp]

I don't get what the point of writing these here was but thanks

[@specialunit0428]

@@masterphoenixharp i gave 1 quote per philosopher shown

[@PoetaOm]

Is Lao-Tzu's correct? His main quotes are from the Tao Te Ching and that fish stuff ain't there. How about: "Everything comes from being. Being comes from nothingness". or "The wise man doesn't need to prove his saying; he who has to prove his saying is not a wise man" or "we use lumber to build a cabin. But it's the inner space of it what is useful." or "man follows earth, earth follows the universe, the universe follows the Tao, and the Tao follows itself" Although, from all those philosophers, only Lao-Tse taught how to fish. Everyone else just gave away fish for all

[@specialunit0428]

@@PoetaOm yes, i believe it is correct. i specifically remember reading that somewhere, infact, i have a black and orange mug with that quote on it!

[@cameranishere]

“Free speech doesn’t mean just keep yapping “.

[@Anais_Frenchy]

underrated!

[@aaronrachiele5521]

👌

[@gayuwu5596]

the chinese prespective

[@livingtoaster1358]

@@dickswanson2 free speech doesn't mean free speech without consequences

[@glassglass6077]

@@livingtoaster1358 nobody said that...

[@MW-op9wx]

This is the ERB I go to when introducing someone to the series.

[@tysonthomas7094]

ERB does its homework! So many history references.... its almost like they need to show this in History classes! Probably would be better than most public schools anyways!

[@thisisawesomeeeeeeee]

I hate that this isn't even close to their most popular one

[@realfartsmella]

Me too. This one's easily in my top 5.

[@DickePerserkatze]

Which one is their most popular one? Too lazy to look up myself^^

[@realfartsmella]

Darius I Obama vs Romney

[@greenekj6]

It's not popular because no one knows who Voltaire, Nietzsche, Sun Tzu, or Lao Tzu are.

[@trymex9168]

Sad that this battle is one of there lowest videos, they're not at popular as the ones with 100m

[@benjaminrichards679]

For those who don't know, this is Peter's favorite battle

[@vidakgrujic827]

Yeah, mine too

[@clenjones5748]

No one cares.

[@iwantnumber9676]

@@clenjones5748 you cared enough to reply and click on this comment

[@clenjones5748]

I want number 9 I care enough that Peter is a little bitch.

[@iwantnumber9676]

@@clenjones5748 So someone did care

[@RudyPerucho]

This is my favorite one!

[@grandmotherproductions9380]

I really enjoy the ERofH but this is my favorite. Lots of thought went into making this one. Literally and literally.

[@hungarycountryball1056]

Lao Tzu: A bowl is most useful when it’s empty Diogenes: Why do I need a bowl?

[@aaronrachiele5521]

Oh! Haha That's good.

[@rageagainstthemicrowave1313]

Diogenes is the best lol.

[@tuanriccy1026]

@@ComicMan-ml3ut ok that's very useful for african kids

[@crimes_of_jazz7256]

Next I want every philosopher against diogenes.

[@somekidnamedoscar8651]

Did you guys see the Sam O’nella video?

[@frostaegis8653]

as a student of philosophy... this is accurate...

[@chemicalpoisons]

+Joonas Ahonen They actually research every individual they rap about. They note down bullets of certain achievements or personal info, and they build the lyrics. It's all really accurate, with creativity inserted here and there. This song actually made me read about Nietzsche, and I was blown away by his sayings. They made want to read his books.

[@JasonCtutorials]

+Joonas Ahonen how does discovery channel dnews fail on facts? but that red head is hot.

[@ethantrent297]

did you decide to do philosophy so you can think deeply about being unemployed?

[@Garyruizjr]

Glad I didn't have to take out student loans to learn this! And hopefully, neither did you... xD

[@norman4948]

+skygiant 123 thats actually a myth. Philosophy is actually a degree that can get you a good job because it requires you to actually think outside your comfort zone and solve problems using logics

[@PeterBuchness-fy8bn]

This was great, just great work!

[@aguinayajolly6565]

My conclusion here is all philosophers never be in the same page their battles are more bloody than battles that use weapons