Meritocracy: Should the Best Always Win?

Should society reward people according to their talent, effort, achievements or contribution? And is a truly meritocratic society necessarily a fair one?

Most of us instinctively believe that the best person should get the job, that hard work should be rewarded, and that success should be earned rather than handed out. But when we examine these assumptions more closely, things become considerably more complicated.

Is it fair that someone born with exceptional intelligence or natural talent should enjoy greater rewards than someone who works twice as hard but achieves less? Can we really claim to live in a meritocracy when people begin life with vastly different advantages and opportunities? And should society prioritise excellence and efficiency, even when doing so produces greater inequality?

The growing emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) raises further questions. Should employers always select the most capable candidate, regardless of background or identity? Or can considerations of representation and historical disadvantage sometimes justify a different approach? Are fairness and meritocracy competing ideals, or can they complement one another?

Join us as we explore some of the fundamental questions surrounding merit, justice, equality and the kind of society we ought to create.

Among the questions we'll consider:

• What actually constitutes merit: natural ability, hard work, achievement or contribution to society?
• Do successful people truly deserve their success, or does luck play a greater role than we care to admit?
• Should competence and efficiency always take precedence over fairness and equality?
• Does DEI undermine meritocracy, or can it help create a more genuinely meritocratic society?
• Should those who contribute more to society receive greater rewards?

Suppose a society could increase overall prosperity by 30%, but only by creating significantly greater inequality.
Would that be a desirable society?

Ultimately, should we strive for a society in which the best always win, or are there more important principles than merit?

What to expect

Philosophy in Pubs is a relaxed, informal gathering for people who enjoy exploring interesting ideas and exchanging different perspectives.

There are no lectures, discussion leaders, formal agendas or predetermined objectives. We typically divide into small groups, allowing conversations to develop naturally and take whichever direction participants find interesting. The questions above are simply suggestions to get people thinking, rather than a structured programme to follow.

You don't need any background in philosophy or specialist knowledge of the subject. Whether you have strong opinions, enjoy challenging your own assumptions, or simply like hearing different perspectives, you're very welcome!

The emphasis is on open-minded, respectful conversation rather than winning arguments or reaching a consensus. Attack the argument, not each other!

Come along, grab a drink, meet some interesting people* and enjoy a good philosophical discussion!

*Statistically, in a group of this size, there will be some boring people.