Confugenics - East Asian culture favors uptake of human cognitive enhancement and IVF genetic technologies amid demographic challenges
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
13212753
eISSN
18366716
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105007085194
Journal Title
Monash Bioethics Review
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Monash Bioethics Review (2025)
Suggested Citation
Chin A.H.B., Rueda J., Sun N., Dang T.N.H., Bosenge-Nguma J.D., Nor N.N.F.M., Muhsin S.M. Confugenics - East Asian culture favors uptake of human cognitive enhancement and IVF genetic technologies amid demographic challenges. Monash Bioethics Review (2025). doi:10.1007/s40592-025-00244-3 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/110609
Title
Confugenics - East Asian culture favors uptake of human cognitive enhancement and IVF genetic technologies amid demographic challenges
Author's Affiliation
Université de Kisangani
Singapore Fertility and IVF Consultancy Pvt Ltd.
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
International Islamic University Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Singapore Fertility and IVF Consultancy Pvt Ltd.
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
International Islamic University Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This study examines the declining fertility rates in East Asian Confucian societies, focusing on the unique childrearing practices and how future advancements in human enhancement and reprogenetic technologies may further accelerate the demographic decline. The focus is on the obsession with “child perfectionism” driven by the pursuit of academic credentialism and hypercompetitive social norms. This phenomenon has roots in the historical imperial examinations of China and has evolved into modern college entrance exams. Recent growth in knowledge-based and technology-driven economies in East Asia has further fueled this trend, leading to the widespread practice of “tiger parenting” whereby parents push their children into the competitive educational system at an early age, often paying high fees for private tuition. Such intense pressure discourages many families from having more children, with some couples choosing not to have any children at all. The development of cognitive-enhancing brain chips and reprogenetic technology platforms for consumer eugenics, such as germline genome editing and polygenic embryo screening, may further increase financial strain on parents, potentially accelerating demographic decline. The term “Confugenics” is thus proposed to describe the intersection of these new eugenics and enhancement technologies with the Confucian emphasis on academic success, which may worsen the demographic crisis.