My new piece, "Talent Surpluses and the Myth of Meritocracy in Science," is now live at 3QuarksDaily.
https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2023/05/talent-surpluses-and-the-myth-of-meritocracy-in-science.html
#Science #Meritocratic #Philosophy

Really appreciating Prof. Pedro Domingo's definition of #meritocracy.
An economic system should not reward people according to their "merit".
Instead, it we strive for #meritocratic systems that enable people to do the things they are best at.
That way we can all contribute as much as possible to the collective good of #society.
Ideally #rewards (#money, #power) are distributed to support that goal, empowering everyone to be their best selves.

ML Street Talk @ 43:20 https://pca.st/episode/8cfae32b-f67f-4881-a3f3-5d057dbe5f40?t=2591

"The #meritocratic ideal is not a remedy for #inequality; it is a justification of inequality."
"Differences of #talent are as morally arbitrary as differences of #class."
From „The Tyranny of #Merit“ by Michael Sandel. Topics: #Credentialism in #education, exaggerated promise of #upwardmobility or holding unsuccessful/poor people responsible for their misfortune all by themselves. #equity #bookstodon
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/313112/the-tyranny-of-merit-by-sandel-michael-j/9780141991177

„The #americandream is alive an well, and living in #Copenhagen.“ Currently reading „The Tyranny of #Merit - Can We Find The Common Good?“ by Michael J. Sandell. In it, many important social issues are addressed that are relevant to most Western societies, e.g. #Credentialism in #education, the highly illusionary promise of #upwardmobility or the flip side of a #meritocratic view: That unsuccessful and poor people are held responsible for their misfortune all by themselves. #equity #bookstodon

As I understand it, competition to get into the US #IvyLeague is so fierce that there is a huge amount of pointless effort urged upon young people to give them an edge. Better for them to have normal Summer jobs, read books that they find interesting, play freely with their friends. The so-called #meritocratic selection system is unhealthy for the young, and for the leadership class that some of them eventually join.