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    Dry January has become increasingly popular, practiced by a quarter of Americans last year, and provides individuals a collegial and open path for reconsidering their alcohol consumption. For almost two million people worldwide who have committed to staying sober for a lifetime, the group known as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its 12-step plan has been a prominent lifeline. But is it the best approach for curbing alcoholism, and does it address its root causes? Those who say AA is invaluable emphasize the merits of its peer-driven, community-based approach. They also point out that membership is free, only requiring a desire to stop drinking. Opportunities for fellowship can be found nearly anywhere, even in communities with limited access to healthcare or treatment facilities. Those who say there might be a better way to sobriety argue that AA’s long-term success rates vary widely. They also note equity issues and note concerns with the program’s focus on abstinence rather than moderation. They say other therapies and interventions, such as harm reduction therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, would help those who may not succeed in the program. Now with this background and in Dry January 2025, we debate the question: Does AA Work?
    
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Agree to Disagree: Is Meritocracy Overrated?

ARGUING YES

Daniel Markovits

Professor at Yale Law School , Author of "The Meritocracy Trap"

November 26, 2021

ARGUING NO

Adrian Wooldridge

Political Editor and Columnist at The Economist

November 26, 2021

Agree to Disagree: Is Meritocracy Overrated?

ARGUING YES

Daniel Markovits

Professor at Yale Law School , Author of "The Meritocracy Trap"

ARGUING NO

Adrian Wooldridge

Political Editor and Columnist at The Economist

Details
Brief

The days of kings and queens are largely over. That old hereditary lottery, at least within many democracies, has effectively been replaced by a system in which talent, grit, and ability are meant to set the terms of success. To quote Michael Shaara’s famous Civil War novel, The Killer Angels, “Here we judge you by what you do, not by what your father was.” And yet with income inequality on the rise, and amidst a pernicious and lingering legacy of slavery and racism, new questions are cropping up as to whether meritocracy itself is mere illusion. Those who say “yes” point to examples of wealth transfers within families, and networks that pave the way for lucrative jobs and fancy educations. Those who say “no” argue that not only does talent ultimately win out, but that despite its flaws, meritocratic systems remain the most effective way of lifting disenfranchised groups from obscurity. In this context, we debate the question: “Is Meritocracy Overrated?”

12:00 PM Friday, November 26, 2021

ARGUING YES

Daniel Markovits

Daniel Markovits is a Guido Calabresi professor of law at Yale and the founding director…

ARGUING NO

Adrian Wooldridge

Adrian Wooldridge is The Economist‘s political editor and writes the Bagehot column, an analysis of…

Related Resources (2 RESOURCES)

The Aritstocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World by Adrian Wooldridge

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Source: The Fourm Network

Be it resolved: Meritocracy is killing the middle class

Source: Munk Debates

Background (3 RESOURCES)

Understanding Meritocracy from a Sociological Perspective

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Source: ThoughtCo.

By Ashley Crossman

How Meritocracy is Defined Today?: Contemporary Aspects of Meritocracy

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Source: Economics and Sociology

By Chang-Hee Kim & Yong-Beom Choi

Five Myths about Meritocracy

Friday, September 13, 2019

Source: The Washington Post

By Daniel Markovitz

Arguments For (2 RESOURCES)

Meritocracy is Worth Defending

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Source: Wall Street Journal

By Jason L. Riley

Meritocracy: The Workplace Culture that Breeds Success

Source: Wired

By Jim Whitehurst

Arguments Against (2 RESOURCES)

How Meritocracy Harms Everyone - Even the Winners

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Source: Vox

By Sean Illing

A Belief in Meritocracy is Not Only False: It's Bad for You

Monday, June 22, 2020

Source: Princeton University

By Clifton Mark

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Jon Limbird

15 December 2021 - 16:43 PM

Debater defined meritocracy as IQ+Effort, but the first example is a gymnast which is purely an athletic pursuit (also exemplifies meritocracy). Using elite Ivy League schools as a point of discussion is more of a class/caste/elite debate which continues to be a dominate power play by their constituents. A tenured professor at an elite Ivy...

Upcoming Debates

Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work?

With Dan Griffin, Adi Jaffe

10:00 AM | Friday, January 3, 2025

Dry January has become increasingly popular, practiced by a quarter of Americans last year, and provides individuals a collegial and open path for reconsidering their alcohol consumption. For almost two million people worldwide who have committed to staying sober for a lifetime, the group known as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its 12-step plan has been a prominent lifeline. But is it the best approach for curbing alcoholism, and does it address its root causes? Those who say AA is invaluable…

Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work?

With Dan Griffin, Adi Jaffe

10:00 AM | Friday, January 3, 2025

Could Longevity Science Extend Your Health Span By Decades? Should the Government Fund It?

With Peter Diamandis, Ezekiel J. Emanuel

10:00 AM | Friday, December 27, 2024

How long would you like to live, and could science and technology make it possible? Longevity science aims to extend our healthy years through advancements in CRISPR, cellular reprogramming, and drug development. While private companies and philanthropists invest heavily in these innovations, should the government be responsible for funding these efforts? Those who say yes to government funding say that longevity research could revolutionize public health, keep aging populations productive in the workforce, and reduce the economic burden of age-related…

Could Longevity Science Extend Your Health Span By Decades? Should the Government Fund It?

With Peter Diamandis, Ezekiel J. Emanuel

10:00 AM | Friday, December 27, 2024

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Features

Topics

Upcoming debates

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

Agree to Disagree: Is Meritocracy Overrated?

Daniel Markovits

Adrian Wooldridge

Agree to Disagree: Is Meritocracy Overrated?

Daniel Markovits

Adrian Wooldridge

Related Resources (2 RESOURCES)

The Aritstocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World by Adrian Wooldridge

Be it resolved: Meritocracy is killing the middle class

Background (3 RESOURCES)

Arguments For (2 RESOURCES)

Arguments Against (2 RESOURCES)

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