November 26, 2021
November 26, 2021

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 That old hereditary lottery, at least within many democracies, has effectively been replaced by a system in which talent, grit, and ability are meant to set the terms of success.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
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Background (3 RESOURCES)

Sunday, June 23, 2019
Source: ThoughtCo.
By Ashley Crossman
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Source: Economics and Sociology
By Chang-Hee Kim & Yong-Beom Choi
Friday, September 13, 2019
Source: The Washington Post
By Daniel Markovitz
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Arguments For (2 RESOURCES)

Saturday, August 7, 2021
Source: Wall Street Journal
By Jason L. Riley
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Arguments Against (2 RESOURCES)

Saturday, December 14, 2019
Source: Vox
By Sean Illing
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