This is the second part of book sharing of The Tyranny of Merit. If you didn’t join the last meeting, you don’t have to worry about not being able to catch up on the topic. Because I have rephrased the questions based on the last discussion. The concept is similar but more specific to what the author wants to deliver to the reader, so join us to have an enthusiastic discussion.
The author, Michael Sandel is a prominent political philosopher and professor at Harvard University known for his work on ethics, justice, and the moral dilemmas surrounding various societal issues. The most well-known course is Justice.
I briefly made three key ideas the book wants to deliver from my perspective.
First, what meritocracy is. From Cambridge dictionary, its definition is “a social system, society, or organization in which people get success or power because of their abilities, not because of their money or social position.” And the author makes a comparison to the feudal system. Here is the quote (ref. Article 2):
Secondly, the author used a story to elaborate his ideas and purpose. We should pursue a fairer society. Here is the quote (ref. Article 1):If, in a feudal society, you were born into serfdom, your life would be hard, but you would not be burdened by the thought that you were responsible for your subordinate position. Nor would you labor under the belief that the landlord for whom you toiled had achieved his position by being more capable and resourceful than you. You would know he was not more deserving than you, only luckier.
If, by contrast, you found yourself on the bottom rung of a meritocratic society, it would be difficult to resist the thought that your disadvantage was at least partly your own doing, a reflection of your failure to display sufficient talent and ambition to get ahead. A society that enables people to rise, and that celebrates rising, pronounces a harsh verdict on those who fail to do so.
Lastly, Author proposed that work is not only making a living, but also contributing to the common goods (共善) and winning recognition for doing so. According to the script of video 1 is below:In the closing section of his book, Sandel recalls the story of Henry Aaron, the black baseball player who grew up in the segregated south and broke Babe Ruth’s record for career home runs in 1974. Aaron’s biographer wrote that hitting a baseball “represented the first meritocracy in Henry’s life”. It’s the wrong lesson to draw, says Sandel. “The moral of Henry Aaron’s story is not that we should love meritocracy but that we should despise a system of racial injustice that can only be escaped by hitting home runs.”
Article 1:https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/ ... y-of-meritThe person who picks up our garbage is, in the final analysis, as significant as the physician, for if he doesn't do his job, diseases are rampant. All labor has dignity. Today's pandemic makes this clear. It reveals how deeply we rely on workers we often overlook. Delivery workers, maintenance workers, grocery store clerks, warehouse workers, truckers, nurse assistants, childcare workers, home health care providers. These are not the best-paid or most honored workers. But now, we see them as essential workers.
Article 2: https://davidlabaree.wordpress.com/2020 ... -of-merit/
Video 1: https://youtu.be/Qewckuxa9hw?si=o5NBMzZMml3dh5F3
Video 2: https://youtu.be/dBHV-BGUmws?si=LSYkUnGYxOi0qQdT
Session 1:
- The key idea of meritocracy is that you earn what you get. The other side of this idea is that if you didn’t get it, it is because you didn’t work hard and it is your fault. Do you agree with this concept? Why?
- Is personal effort the main reason to be successful? Is any successful factor not controlled by an individual? Do people get born in rich or poor families is the one of them? Or is personal luck controlled by an individual?
- How do you measure a person's success? Could degree and income be one of them? Is it a good measure? Who will be successful that you recognized, but not in terms of degree or money?
- How do you see a person is not that successful? What makes them so?
- In 1970, CEOs earned 30 times more than average workers in the U.S. But, in 2014, the number was increased to 300 times. If income is one of the criteria to measure one’s success, it means CEOs are more successful than before. Would you agree or disagree? Why?
- Do you think education is important for people? Why? What is the goal you want to achieve through education? Does this goal have an alternative way to achieve?
- In the US, only one third of the people can go to university, there is not a fair chance for everyone to go to university, if people give too much attention to education. However, in Taiwan we give everyone to go to university within the University Acceptance Rate 96.14% in 2023. Is that good? Which way do you prefer? What is the purpose of education? a filter of candidates or a job skill incubator?
- Sandel proposes that using lucky draw to replace SAT university entrance exam, by only filtering those students, cannot finish the university. The purpose of that is to decrease their pride and increase group consciousness. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- If we too much emphasize meritocracy, it may cause “Winners are proud, losers feel inferior.” (贏者驕傲，輸者自卑) Because the concept of that is everyone should fully take responsibility for their success or failure. If so, it is difficult to evoke mutual help and group awareness. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Could you give an example?
- The author elaborated that “Success is not due to the winner himself, but also to the society.” Taking NBA players for example, those players can make a huge fortune, not only because of their efforts, but also the support of the audience and business. if NBA players were born in the Renaissance. They wouldn’t make that fortune. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- We are a group of society no matter what you are doing. The teacher and cleaner are equally contributing to the society. We should not look down on anyone who made a contribution. Arthur proposes we should pursue common goods, instead of degrees or money. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Agenda:
3:45 ~ 4:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
4:00 ~ 4:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
4:10 ~ 4:50pm Discussion Session (40 mins)
4:50 ~ 5:10pm Summarization (20 mins)
5:10 ~ 5:15pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 10 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
5:15 ~ 5:55pm Discussion Session (40 mins)
6:00 ~ 6:20pm Summarization (20 mins)
6:20 ~ 6:30pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements
Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
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Important Notes:
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