The tyranny of merit: what's become of the common good?

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Varies, see individual formats and editions
Publication Date
2020.
Language
English

Description

A Times Literary Supplement’s Book of the Year 2020A New Statesman's Best Book of 2020A Bloomberg's Best Book of 2020A Guardian Best Book About Ideas of 2020The world-renowned philosopher and author of the bestselling Justice explores the central question of our time: What has become of the common good?These are dangerous times for democracy. We live in an age of winners and losers, where the odds are stacked in favor of the already fortunate. Stalled social mobility and entrenched inequality give the lie to the American credo that "you can make it if you try". The consequence is a brew of anger and frustration that has fueled populist protest and extreme polarization, and led to deep distrust of both government and our fellow citizens--leaving us morally unprepared to face the profound challenges of our time.World-renowned philosopher Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalization and rising inequality. Sandel shows the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgement it imposes on those left behind, and traces the dire consequences across a wide swath of American life. He offers an alternative way of thinking about success--more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility and solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of work. The Tyranny of Merit points us toward a hopeful vision of a new politics of the common good.

More Details

Contributors
Sandel, Michael J. Author, Narrator
ISBN
9780374289980
9780374720995
9781250770028

Table of Contents

From the Book - First edition.

Introduction : getting in
Winners and losers
"Great because good" : a brief moral history of merit
The rhetoric of rising
Credentialism : the last acceptable prejudice
Success ethics
The sorting machine
Recognizing work
Conclusion.

Discover More

Author Notes

Loading Author Notes...

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors incisive and thought-provoking, and they have the genre "politics and global affairs -- political philosophy"; and the subjects "populism," "democracy," and "politics and government."
These books have the appeal factors incisive and thought-provoking, and they have the subjects "polarization (social sciences)," "populism," and "public interest."
These books have the appeal factors incisive, well-researched, and thought-provoking, and they have the subjects "polarization (social sciences)," "populism," and "social mobility."
These books have the genres "society and culture -- wealth and class" and "politics and global affairs -- political parties"; and the subjects "populism," "democracy," and "social mobility."
These books have the appeal factors incisive, thought-provoking, and persuasive, and they have the genre "society and culture -- wealth and class"; and the subjects "common good," "social mobility," and "income inequality."
These books have the genres "society and culture -- wealth and class" and "impartial writing"; and the subjects "polarization (social sciences)," "populism," and "public interest."
These books have the appeal factors incisive, and they have the genre "business and economics -- economics -- socioeconomics"; and the subject "globalization."
These books have the appeal factors incisive and persuasive, and they have the genres "society and culture -- wealth and class" and "impartial writing"; and the subjects "common good," "democracy," and "social mobility."
These books have the appeal factors incisive, and they have the genres "society and culture -- wealth and class" and "impartial writing"; and the subjects "populism," "democracy," and "social mobility."
These books have the appeal factors incisive, well-researched, and thought-provoking, and they have the genres "society and culture -- wealth and class" and "business and economics -- economics -- socioeconomics"; and the subjects "common good," "social mobility," and "income inequality."
These books have the appeal factors incisive, and they have the genre "society and culture -- wealth and class"; and the subjects "populism," "social mobility," and "middle class."
These books have the appeal factors incisive and thought-provoking, and they have the genres "society and culture -- wealth and class" and "business and economics -- economics -- socioeconomics"; and the subjects "social mobility" and "middle class."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These authors' works have the appeal factors persuasive, and they have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "common good," "social change," and "polarization (social sciences)."
These authors' works have the appeal factors persuasive, and they have the genres "society and culture" and "business and economics"; and the subjects "ethics," "common good," and "personal conduct."
These authors' works have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "common good," "social change," and "social life and customs."
These authors' works have the appeal factors thought-provoking and persuasive, and they have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "wealth," "populism," and "income."
These authors' works have the appeal factors impassioned and thought-provoking, and they have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "human genetics," "populism," and "social mobility."
These authors' works have the subjects "values," "personal conduct," and "social change."
These authors' works have the appeal factors impassioned and persuasive, and they have the genre "business and economics"; and the subjects "economics," "wealth," and "populism."
These authors' works have the appeal factors persuasive, and they have the genre "business and economics"; and the subjects "ethics," "common good," and "economics."
These authors' works have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "values," "ethics," and "common good."
These authors' works have the appeal factors persuasive, and they have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "ethics," "common good," and "polarization (social sciences)."
These authors' works have the genre "business and economics"; and the subjects "ethics," "social change," and "polarization (social sciences)."
These authors' works have the appeal factors thought-provoking, persuasive, and incisive, and they have the genre "society and culture"; and the subjects "common good," "social change," and "populism."

Published Reviews

Publisher's Weekly Review

The almost sacred principle of meritocracy--that society should (and does) grant position and wealth to the most talented and capable--is tearing people apart, according to this bracing sociopolitical treatise. Harvard political philosopher Sandel (Democracy's Discontent) argues that the meritocratic creed has created a sharply unequal, globalized economy with soaring incomes for a few and stagnant wages for the rest; government by out-of-touch technocrats indifferent to the concerns of ordinary people; and a populist backlash against meritocratic elites from a working class that's marginalized and humiliated by a system that says their dim prospects are the just outcome of their lack of smarts and adaptability. Writing in tart prose that decries "the smug conviction of those who land on the top that they deserve their fate, and that those on the bottom deserve theirs," the author traces the meritocratic concept from Christian theological roots and criticisms of it by philosophers to its deep influence on modern-day rhetoric; the book's centerpiece is a stinging attack on universities as temples of meritocracy that nevertheless reinforce upper-class privilege rather than helping the disadvantaged. Sandel, however, only makes a few concrete suggestions for dethroning meritocracy, including college admissions by lottery. Still, he offers a rich, incisive analysis of how the meritocratic ideal contributes to contemporary political crises. (Sept.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Powered by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

How pernicious assumptions about merit undermine democracy. Harvard professor of political philosophy and host of BBC Radio's "The Global Philosopher," Sandel offers a cogent, penetrating critique of meritocracy, which, he argues persuasively, has trammeled our sense of community and mutual respect. Central to the meritocratic ethic, he writes, is "freedom--the ability to control my destiny by dint of hard work--and deservingness. If I am responsible for having accrued a handsome share of worldly goods--income and wealth, power and prestige--I must deserve them. Success is a sign of virtue. My affluence is my due." However, the author asserts that many factors beyond one's control--family status, quality of education, what skills or talents the market values--shape one's access to wealth and prestige. "Even a fair meritocracy," he adds, "one without cheating or bribery or special privileges for the wealthy, induces a mistaken impression--that we have made it on our own." Sandel deplores the rhetoric--touted by politicians on the left and right--that "valorizes credentialism" by calling for workers to improve their lives by getting a college degree. Such rhetoric, he insists repeatedly, erodes the dignity of work, "undermines social recognition and esteem for those who lack the credentials the system rewards," and leads to unfounded prejudice against those less educated. Loss of social esteem, he maintains, afflicts many aggrieved workers in contemporary America. Sandel's proposals to undermine the tyranny of meritocracy include a lottery system for admission to highly selective colleges, after a diverse and qualified pool is established; and a commitment to creating spaces and places where "citizens from different walks of life encounter one another." The idea of a competitive meritocracy, he writes, "is a hollow political project that reflects an impoverished conception of citizenship and freedom." Sandel's proposals for change are less convincing than his deeply considered analysis. A stimulating examination of a divisive social and political problem. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Reviews

The almost sacred principle of meritocracy—that society should (and does) grant position and wealth to the most talented and capable—is tearing people apart, according to this bracing sociopolitical treatise. Harvard political philosopher Sandel (Democracy's Discontent) argues that the meritocratic creed has created a sharply unequal, globalized economy with soaring incomes for a few and stagnant wages for the rest; government by out-of-touch technocrats indifferent to the concerns of ordinary people; and a populist backlash against meritocratic elites from a working class that's marginalized and humiliated by a system that says their dim prospects are the just outcome of their lack of smarts and adaptability. Writing in tart prose that decries "the smug conviction of those who land on the top that they deserve their fate, and that those on the bottom deserve theirs," the author traces the meritocratic concept from Christian theological roots and criticisms of it by philosophers to its deep influence on modern-day rhetoric; the book's centerpiece is a stinging attack on universities as temples of meritocracy that nevertheless reinforce upper-class privilege rather than helping the disadvantaged. Sandel, however, only makes a few concrete suggestions for dethroning meritocracy, including college admissions by lottery. Still, he offers a rich, incisive analysis of how the meritocratic ideal contributes to contemporary political crises. (Sept.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly.
Powered by Content Cafe

Reviews from GoodReads

Loading GoodReads Reviews.

Staff View

Loading Staff View.