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Single Idea 8237

[from 'The Mengzi (Mencius)' by Mengzi (Mencius), in 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / a. Communitarianism ]

Full Idea

Treat the aged of your own family in a manner befitting their venerable age and extend this treatment to the aged of other families. Treat your own young in a manner befitting their tender age, and extend this to the young of other families.

Gist of Idea

Extend the treatment of the old and young in your family to the rest of society

Source

Mengzi (Mencius) (The Mengzi (Mencius) [c.332 BCE], 1.A.7)

Book Reference

Mencius: 'Mencius', ed/tr. Lau,D.C. [Penguin 1970], p.56


A Reaction

This seems to me to articulate the ideal of communitarianism very nicely. Morality is not just about healthy adults in war and peace. It must include the children and the old. The values of the family are above the values of contracts and calculations.