This article discusses intergenerational relations and moral values among Karen communities in Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, Norway and the UK. We use a conceptual framework inspired by Christian anthropology and the notion of the “common good” to analyse how the practice of honouring the elderly is sustained by virtues of “acknowledged dependence” and “rational independence” (MacIntyre 2009). The article argues that honour of the elders in Karen communities is an intergenerational process. The younger's “acknowledged dependence” of the vulnerability of the elder results in respect and support enabling the elder's “rational independence”. In turn, this facilitates ongoing imparting of wisdom and socially valuable knowledge contributing to an effective social order; thus, the common good of their communities. Research processes of long‐term participant observation and more recent interviews revealed that honour and respect of older persons in diverse Karen communities across five countries remains a virtue valued by younger and older alike.

中文翻译：

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尊敬长者：卡伦族社区的共同利益–多民族志

本文讨论了泰国，缅甸，澳大利亚，挪威和英国的卡伦社区之间的代际关系和道德价值观。我们使用受基督教人类学和“公益”概念启发的概念框架来分析如何通过“公认的依赖”和“理性独立”来维持敬老的实践（MacIntyre 2009）。文章认为，克伦族长老的荣誉是一个代际过程。年轻人对老年人脆弱性的“公认依赖”导致尊重和支持老年人的“理性独立”。反过来，这有助于不断传授智慧和具有社会价值的知识，从而有助于建立有效的社会秩序；因此，这是他们社区的共同利益。长期参与者观察和最近访谈的研究过程表明，在五个国家的不同克伦族社区中，尊重和尊重老年人仍然是年轻人和老年人所重视的美德。