9/26 (Tue.) Book sharing Part 1: The Tyranny of Merit : What’s Become of the Common Good? (Host: thomas)

[thomas]

Dear yoyoer,

This time I want to share one of the books which has inspired me a lot, "The Tyranny of Merit." I have picked up some ideas in the book, and made the questions. I hope these questions also can trigger lively discussion and get some inspiration. : )

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.

In the book "The Tyranny of Merit", he talks about how we often believe that success means we're better than others. Like, if you get good grades or a fancy job, it can make you feel like you're awesome and others are not as good. But Sandel says this way of thinking is causing problems in our world.

He says that this idea of "meritocracy" is making people who are successful act like they're better than those who aren't doing as well. This makes people feel left out or upset. It's like a big division in our society.

Sandel's main point is that we should rethink what it means to be successful. Instead of looking down on people who don't have as much, we should care about everyone and try to make things fairer. He wants us to think more about how we can all work together and not be so focused on who's the best.

"The Tyranny of Merit" is a book that makes us think about how we can make the world a better and fairer place for everyone, no matter how successful they are. It's like a call to be kinder and more caring to each other and to look beyond just being the best at something.

Video 1: https://youtu.be/Qewckuxa9hw?si=o5NBMzZMml3dh5F3
Video 2: https://youtu.be/dBHV-BGUmws?si=LSYkUnGYxOi0qQdT


Session 1:

In the common understanding of most people, an education degree is crucial for getting a good job. Parents are willing to spend a big portion of household expenses on their children's education. Even, they bribed the keyman in order to send their kids to a good universe. For example, William "Rick" Singer's 2019 scandal involved a college admissions scheme. He helped wealthy parents cheat their kids' way into top universities, often through fake sports profiles or cheating on exams. Celebrities like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were caught, sparking a big discussion on fairness in college admissions.

a. Why do most parents think a good degree is important? Please provide an example to support your idea.
b. Do you think the examination system is fair for everyone? which means no matter how wealthy you are or what status you have, Can exams serve as a filter for students’ abilities? What could be the conditions which students can not control?
c. The examination is like a game. there must be winners and losers in the end. In some cases, winners look down on those losers, because winners think their effort makes them successful and ignore their congenital merits. Do you see that situation which has happened in your life? Can you share an example of that?

Session 2:

The word “meritocracy” 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.”

a. Do you agree that meritocracy is the best way in society? Please provide some examples to support your idea. What could be the drawbacks in this system?
b. People were born in which family is, or have what economic level of circle of friends is. It is luck and good fortune. Do these conditions affect people's success?
c. How people balance between internal personal effort and external luck and good fortune. What is the better attitude when you face winning and losing?

Session 3:

The author said, the inequality brought us deeply divided between winners and losers. But also the attitude toward winning and losing. Those who landed on top came to believe that their success was their own doing, a measure of merit. And those who lost out had no one to blame but themselves.

a. What is your definition of success? How do people measure a person's success?
b. 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. Can money people make be a measure of their contribution to the common good.
c. "The 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. Do you agree? why and why not? Can you give other examples of underestimated jobs?

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Agenda:
6:45 ~ 7:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
7:00 ~ 7:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
7:10 ~ 7:45pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
7:45 ~ 8:00pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:00 ~ 8:05pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 5 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
8:05 ~ 8:40pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
8:40 ~ 8:55pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:55 ~ 9:00pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements

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Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
Address: 台北市濟南路三段25號[MAP]-捷運忠孝新生站3號出口步行3分鐘

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[Rock]

For the session one question, I think our education system is somthing like the sorting hat. It's ridiculous. And the way to make it work is to believe it works.

[Rock]

They have a debate on meritocracy, and the guy mentions about Chinese, too.

[Iris Wu]

I must tip my hat to the host. He's truly hit the nail on the head with such a well-prepared list of questions and subjects.

It's one of the very rare occasions where I poured my heart into each question, penning down my thoughts and answers. It wasn't just for the meeting; it was a deep dive into reflecting on my own life.

[Iris Wu]

They have a debate on meritocracy, and the guy mentions about Chinese, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOpdahGGoxE

I saw this debate as well. I had to watch it twice and take notes.
The debate topic: Do We Need More Meritocracy or Less Meritocracy?
Adrian Wooldridge: Need More Meritocracy.

• 1) Meritocracy is a system judging each person on the basis of their individual abilities rather than their family, background, or their connections.
  2) Meritocracy benefits us collectively.
  3) Meritocratic countries are more productive because of open competition.
  4) Success is a combination of talent and effort. We should not undermine the significance of the effort. Effort is an important part of merit.
  5) Working hard is a good thing, which should be rewarded.
  6) Meritocracy is a good thing; a revolution from the below; a self-correcting idea; and an achievement of human history.
  7) All the issues (corruption) are because of insufficient meritocracy, hence, what we need is more meritocracy, not less.

Thomas has summarized most of Michael Sandel's arguments presented in the speech and the book, "The Tyranny of Merit".

Personally, I feel both sides have strong and compelling reasons. I do share Sandel's fundamental moral concern: There is not much difference between "an accident of birth being born to a well-off family vs. an accident of birth being born with certain talents/gifts."

But in terms of a solution, I think we can have a serious discussion in the meeting tonight.

[Rock]

...
But in terms of a solution, I think we can have a serious discussion in the meeting tonight.

Really? We want to go seriously about it? Cool!!
Let me put up my serious face before I come to the meeting.

[Rock]

Meritocracy, in Sandel's contention, favors the winners so they take it all and also look down on others. But this seem more like the the concept of western capitalism than Chinese meritocracy to me. In my education, or brainwashing, they taught me that intellectuals are not to grab wealth, but to serve. Some may say that this is against human nature. Why would the elites tend to serve and not to rob? Is it possible?

Now Sandel brings up something which is also kind of against human nature. I need to think more and talk to our good people in the meeting to know more about it, though.