In this paper, I examine Sandel’s recent criticism of meritocracy. I argue that even though Sandel appeals to the rhetoric of luck in his criticism, unlike Rawls, his fundamental political aspiration is a kind of communitarian republicanism rather than liberal egalitarianism. However, Sandel’s suggestion of lottery elements in college admission does not help much in reducing inequality and political polarization. After comparing Mulligan’s meritocratic thesis, I argue that the problems of inequality and polarization in the U.S. are not caused by meritocracy; rather it is due to a lack of substantive equal opportunity. And I would argue that as long as substantive equal educational opportunities are guaranteed, there is no reason to reject meritocracy. And by taking reference from the experience of Hong Kong’s educational reform, I further argue that one important way to achieve equal educational opportunities is through leveling-up educational policies, such as providing competitive publicly-funded education, which not only provides equal opportunity to everyone to develop their capabilities regardless of their different family backgrounds, but also establishes citizens’ participatory readiness, so that they can effectively participate in creating and sustaining communitarian meritocracy.

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PurposeThe aim of this paper is to argue for the values of familial caring and relationships in addition to the provision of social media technology during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachThe discussion of this paper has adopted an inter-disciplinary approach by integrating health care system and psychological analysis, based on cultural philosophical argument through the hermeneutic approach of classical texts and critical analysis.FindingsThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the dilemma between the public health measures for COVID-19 and sustaining elderly social psychological health through familial connection. From a Confucian perspective, the practice of filial piety (xiao, 孝), which demands taking care of parents, is essential for one’s moral formation, and for one’s becoming a virtuous (ren, 仁) person. The necessity of taking care of elderly parents by adult children is not something that can be explained in terms of consequentialism. Indeed, the rising trend of instrumental rationality seems to weaken rather than strengthen the sense of filial obligation. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic which tends to separate connections between family members, the author argues that we should emphasize the values of familial caring and relationship because it enhances the elderly’s characteristic of resilience.Originality/valueThis paper shows that while social media technology has mitigated the negative effect of social distancing, such online relationships should never replace the bodily connections between the elderly and their family members from a Confucian perspective.

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