The Benevolent Polity: A Confucian Socio-Ethical Vision of Eldercare

Population aging and eldercare constitute a pressing major issue for more and more societies in Asia and worldwide. In China today, the age-old Chinese tradition of respecting and caring for the elderly faces numerous challenges (such as the shocking high rates of elderly suicides), challenges often associated with the country’s one-child policy. Eldercare is first and foremost a moral undertaking; without a sound ethical vision, no society can develop adequate care for all its older people. To set out some elements of an ethical foundation for contemporary eldercare, this paper draws on classical Confucian moral and political thought articulated in Mengzi (Mencius), in particular the fundamental concepts of renzheng (benevolent polity or humane governance) and mingui (the importance of the people). The most salient practical feature of a benevolent polity lies in adequate care of the elderly. Contrary to certain pervasive misconceptions of Confucianism, a Confucian vision of ethical eldercare centres on the government or society’s responsibilities to the people, including the elderly, the rights and dignity owing to them, and the primacy of morality. To elaborate on some implications of ancient Confucian thought for contemporary practices, a brief Confucian socio-ethical critique of population aging and eldercare in China today is also offered.