Abstract
This brief paper is a response to Fan Ruiping’s interpretation and evaluation of Article 14 of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights from a Confucian perspective. While I agree with the main thrust of Fan’s arguments, I focus on a few critical ideas in the paper. I discuss the role of the government and the place of the family and community in Confucian thought. Finally, I examine Fan’s understanding of ‘minimum standard of health’ against Article 14 and concepts of equality and justice.
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Grouped in paradigmatic pairs, the five relationships according to Confucianism cover the whole of society: (1) Ruler and Ministers, (2) Father and Son, (3) Husband and Wife, (4) Elder and Younger, and (5) Friend and Friend.
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Thus, according to The Book of Odes, ‘A young person who is filial and respectful of his elders rarely becomes the kind of person who is inclined to defy his superiors, and there has never been a case of one who is disinclined to defy his superiors stirring up rebellion. The junzi applies himself to the roots. “Once the roots are firmly established, the Way will grow”. Might we not say that filial piety and respect for elders constitute the root of Ren?’ (I.2).
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Chia, R. (2018). Social Responsibility and Health from a Confucian Perspective: A Confucian Response to Ruiping Fan. In: Tham, J., Durante, C., García Gómez, A. (eds) Religious Perspectives on Social Responsibility in Health . Advancing Global Bioethics, vol 9. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71849-1_9
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