Respect for Older Persons

Abstract

Most readily available literature on the subject of the status of older persons and the respect accorded to them is written within the framework of the Judaeo-Christian tradition. The result is a possible inclination to universalize to all people concepts and experiences that are unique to one cultural tradition. This paper reviews a totally different cultural and ethical basis of respect for older persons, the Confucian tradition; and traces the history of that tradition through 2000 years of one oriental society: Korea.