Sociology / Unit 6 Soc 0828 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Meritocracy
Captions available
The idea
Meritocracy is a system in which position is assigned purely by ability and effort — an ideal type no society has achieved, used as a standard for comparison.
In practice
A hiring process open to all still selects from applicants whose preparation differed for twenty years.
Where people slip
Treating an existing hierarchy as already meritocratic converts the ideal into a justification.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Sociology