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A meritoracy can reward qualities other than intelligence - integrity, talent, dedication, diligence, courage (both physical and moral), kindness, generosity, w

A meritoracy can reward qualities other than intelligence - integrity, talent, dedication, diligence, courage (both physical and moral), kindness, generosity, willingness to help others...

DonaldFisk 10y ago
It would be nice, but I don't see it happening any time soon. http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterubel/2014/12/15/is-homo-economicus-a-psychopath/#7da50b1842c5 http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterubel/2014/12/15/is-homo-eco... Peter Ubel writes: "The researchers paint a powerful picture of Homo economicus: “We see a person who is intelligent, driven to excel and to dominate other people, and capable of impulse control and of working toward long-term goals. In other words, Homo economicus is the prototypical member of the social and economic elite.” And the social and economic elite think our society is a meritocracy, and that they deserve their wealth and place in society, and through their control of the media, have convinced most other people that this is true.
- Godel_unicode 10y ago
  The implication here being that intelligence, impulse control, and the ability and desire to work towards long term goals are not merit? I'm curious, what then do you think constitutes merit?
  - DonaldFisk 10y ago
    Merit can't be defined generally, varies according to circumstances, and people disagree on what is desirable. When it can be defined, it is usually difficult or impossible to measure. When we attempt to measure it, some people find ways of "gaming the system". And when it is easy to measure accurately, it's often of little practical use. We have created a society, or rather one has been created for us, in which borderline psychopathic behaviour is rewarded. Many people are beginning to wake up to this. Instead of trying to create a meritocracy, we should decide what sort of society we want and work towards that.
smt88 10y ago
It's impossible to have a meritocracy because there's no objective way to decide what "merit" is. Even if you decide it's some of the qualities you mention, you can't accurately measure them. It's time to give up on the idea of meritocracy (either in society as a whole, or in a company).
type0 10y ago
There really is no meritocracy as such it is just the other name for elitocracy, you know the buddy society that favors corruption. In academia the merits are often not assigned objectively even in hard sciences, If you think that everything is based on merits, everything becomes a merit, knowing some famous professor becomes a merit regardless that is because your uncle is his friend. And don't get me started on the elitocracy in politics and other institutions.

A meritoracy can reward qualities other than intelligence - integrity, talent, dedication, diligence, courage (both physical and moral), kindness, generosity, willingness to help others...

DonaldFisk 10y ago

It would be nice, but I don't see it happening any time soon. http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterubel/2014/12/15/is-homo-economicus-a-psychopath/#7da50b1842c5 http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterubel/2014/12/15/is-homo-eco... Peter Ubel writes: "The researchers paint a powerful picture of Homo economicus: “We see a person who is intelligent, driven to excel and to dominate other people, and capable of impulse control and of working toward long-term goals. In other words, Homo economicus is the prototypical member of the social and economic elite.” And the social and economic elite think our society is a meritocracy, and that they deserve their wealth and place in society, and through their control of the media, have convinced most other people that this is true.

Godel_unicode 10y ago
The implication here being that intelligence, impulse control, and the ability and desire to work towards long term goals are not merit? I'm curious, what then do you think constitutes merit?
- DonaldFisk 10y ago
  Merit can't be defined generally, varies according to circumstances, and people disagree on what is desirable. When it can be defined, it is usually difficult or impossible to measure. When we attempt to measure it, some people find ways of "gaming the system". And when it is easy to measure accurately, it's often of little practical use. We have created a society, or rather one has been created for us, in which borderline psychopathic behaviour is rewarded. Many people are beginning to wake up to this. Instead of trying to create a meritocracy, we should decide what sort of society we want and work towards that.

smt88 10y ago

It's impossible to have a meritocracy because there's no objective way to decide what "merit" is. Even if you decide it's some of the qualities you mention, you can't accurately measure them. It's time to give up on the idea of meritocracy (either in society as a whole, or in a company).

type0 10y ago

There really is no meritocracy as such it is just the other name for elitocracy, you know the buddy society that favors corruption. In academia the merits are often not assigned objectively even in hard sciences, If you think that everything is based on merits, everything becomes a merit, knowing some famous professor becomes a merit regardless that is because your uncle is his friend. And don't get me started on the elitocracy in politics and other institutions.