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Bo Burnham and the Illusion of Meritocracy
- tor0viking 8y agoThe MIT model is so naive in its construction it's worthless as a tool to understand the real world. Random events significant enough to alter one's life trajectory once set are the exception, not the rule. Furthermore intelligence is only one small component of what precipitates financial success. It's almost as if the researchers went into their research with their minds made up already, trying to construct a model to confirm their initial prejudices. Among the constellation of positive traits people can have, many unique combinations may lead to success. Intelligence is certainly very useful, but determination, focus, affability, vision etc are all independent of raw intelligence to some extent. It's fashionable among cynics to believe and advocate that meritocracy is dead, but meritocracy is alive and well. People who possess the big 4 positive traits of focus, intelligence, likability and ambition will find success in any number of different fields and life paths, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Of course it's easier to reach the top if you are already at the top and harder to reach the top if you are at the bottom, but there are many more ways to live a "successful" life than simply being in the top 1% of wealth. That poor person who dedicates themself to their work with vigor and intelligence will very likely do better than their peers who do not, barring exceptional circumstances. If success is measured in terms of a stable comfortable life, such a person will very likely merit and achieve this success.