Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos ‘strength, power’) is a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class.
Is capitalism a meritocracy?
It has been argued that meritocracy under capitalism will always remain a myth because, as Michael Kinsley states, “Inequalities of income, wealth, status are inevitable, and in a capitalist system even necessary.” Even though many economists admit that too much disparity between the rich and the poor can destabilize ...
What is an example of meritocracy?
Meritocracy is the idea that people get ahead based on their own accomplishments rather than, for example, on their parents’ social class . ... Do we live in a meritocracy? Well, maybe the best we can hope for is to live in an imperfect meritocracy.
What is the best definition of meritocracy?
noun, plural mer·i·toc·ra·cies. an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege or wealth. a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced : The dean believes the educational system should be a meritocracy. leadership by able and talented persons.
What is a meritocracy Why is it important?
Meritocracy is the most self-congratulatory of distribution principles . Its ideological alchemy transmutes property into praise, material inequality into personal superiority. It licenses the rich and powerful to view themselves as productive geniuses.
What are the disadvantages of meritocracy?
- Merit, in most cases, is determined by education and can prove to be unaffordable in some countries.
- Difficulties in acquiring higher education turns meritocracy into elitism.
- Obstacles in pursuit of higher education for lower and middle class creates lack of opportunity.
What is meritocracy in simple words?
: a system, organization, or society in which people are chosen and moved into positions of success, power, and influence on the basis of their demonstrated abilities and merit (see merit entry 1 sense 1b) Only the elite, in that new meritocracy, would enjoy the opportunity for self-fulfillment ...—
Why do Bowles and Gintis argue that meritocracy is a myth?
Marxist sociologists Bowles and Gintis argue that capitalist societies are not meritocratic . Against Functionalists, they argue that it is not the amount of ability and effort an individual puts into their education that determines how well they do, but rather their class background.
What’s the opposite of meritocracy?
The opposite of meritocracy is kakistocracy , or the rule of the worst.
What is meritocracy in capitalism?
Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos ‘strength, power’) is a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class .
What is the full meaning of mediocrity?
: the quality of something that is not very good : the quality or state of being mediocre. : a person who does not have the special ability to do something well.
What is another word for meritocracy?
| excellence value | truthfulness justness | equity fairness | legality impartiality | lawfulness equitableness |
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What is meritocracy in the workplace?
What is a meritocracy in the workplace? In a meritocracy, everyone has the right to express their opinions and are encouraged to share them openly and often . Those opinions are listened to and decisions are then made based on those that are deemed the best.
Is work a meritocracy?
In business, a meritocracy generally means that each person’s performance and talent is used to hire, promote and reward , without any recourse to sex, race, class or nationality. ... Meritocratic workplaces operate performance reward systems. Employees are judged on effort, skills, abilities and performance alone.
What is meritocracy in social stratification?
Meritocracy. Meritocracy is an ideal system based on the belief that social stratification is the result of personal effort—or merit—that determines social standing . ... The concept of meritocracy is an ideal—because a society has never existed where social rank was based purely on merit.
Is school a meritocratic?
The meritocratic view of the education system means that the system is fair and supports all however, other sociologists discard this view as legitimising a system of inequality where some people dues to wealth/class do better than others. Functionalists believe that the education system is meritocratic.
