Is It Time to Abandon Meritocracy? A Debate with Michael Sandel
Is It Time to Abandon Meritocracy? A Debate with Michael Sandel
Appears in this episode
Michael Sandel, one of the most influential political philosophers of our time, makes a provocative argument: Meritocracy allows successful people to feel good about themselves, without doing very much to address the plight of those who are less fortunate. So it is time to abandon the ideal.
In this conversation about Sandel’s new book, The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good?, I debate these themes with him. Should we really throw the pursuit of meritocracy on the trash heap of history? Or would it be better to ensure that our society actually lives up to the meritocratic ideal (while ensuring that everyone, successful or not, can have a decent life)?
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Is It Time to Abandon Meritocracy? A Debate with Michael Sandel
Yasha I love your work but please invest in some proper audio equipment :D
Well, first thing... I disagree with his initial description of meritocracy as impugning the abilities or qualities of those who do not achieve the pinnacles of success. It seems to me that his entire argument is made of straw, as it's predicated upon his personal, expansive, overreaching interpretation of merit.