| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | International Encyclopedia of Ethics |
| Editors | Thaddeus Metz |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishers |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
Abstract
A meritocracy is a society in which positions of advantage and power are distributed based on people’s merit. Although the word ‘meritocracy’ was only coined during the 1950s by Michael Dunlop Young, merit as a principle for organizing society is much older. The relationship between merit, equality of opportunity, and desert is explored. Several recent critiques of meritocracy are discussed, including that meritocratic thinking is responsible for the rise of populism around the globe.
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
Keywords
- affirmative action
- Arendt, Hannah
- Aristotle
- desert
- discrimination
- merit
- meritocracy
- equality of opportunity
- glass ceiling
- Rawls, John
- justice
- Mill, John Stuart
- Mozi
- Plato
- racism
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