The Tyranny of Merit
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People get what they deserve.
It's a simple idea. It's an intuitive idea. And philosopher Michael Sandel argues in his book, The Tyranny of Merit, that it's fraying the bonds that hold societies together. The successful fail to credit their community for their good fortune and the losers resent their lot in life.
Questions we will consider in this session:
- Is meritocracy fatally flawed?
- What level of deference to credentials is warranted?
- What is the role of expertise in a democracy?
- How can the worst excesses of meritocracy be reined in?
We will talk about this book, but it's not presumed that you've read it. Feel free to read it if you like, but this is not one of our regular "close readings."