Confucianism and the Ethics of Social Robots in Eldercare

Abstract

Social robots have been proposed as a technological solution to the crisis in eldercare. As care institutions face the dual problem of patients living longer (with many having chronic diseases) and a shortage of staff, it is hoped social robots can help alleviate some of the workload. This has generated a heated debate about the ethical justification of social robots in eldercare. Much of this debate has so far been undertaken from the perspective of Western ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, the capabilities approach, and rights-based theories of ethics. But the eldercare crisis is a global one and one part of the world where such robots are already in use is East Asia. For generations, people in East Asia have been guided by a very different set of ethical values. One tradition that continues to guide ethical thinking is Confucianism. In this paper I show that the existing arguments do not justify the ethical use of robots on Confucian grounds. However, Confucianism is not anti-technology and technology-based solutions to problems of eldercare can, in the right circumstances, be appropriate. I outline a three-part protocol for institutions that should be followed when considering the use of robots for patients and their families that follow a Confucian way of life.