Merit is the idea that the most just distribution of social and economic goods falls to those who work hard for them and demonstrate required skills at an appropriately high level. The correlate of that is that the process by which individuals advance in society and are rewarded should be by them demonstrating the required… Continue reading On Meritocracy: Is merit or good fortune the driver of success?
Author: Don Trubshaw
Don Trubshaw is a co-founder of the website Societal Values. He has a PhD in the philosophy and sociology of education and teaches in Higher Education.
The Importance of Ownership
The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property. (Karl Marx) The system of private property is the most important guarantee of freedom, not only for those who own property, but scarcely less for those who do not. (Friedrich August von Hayek) The right to private property… Continue reading The Importance of Ownership
Hurtling to Oblivion
Captain’s log Stardate 76342.1; We are proceeding through the Orion nebula system, having just emerged from warp drive. The crew are in good spirits and looking forward to the festive season; The crew are putting up the seasonal lights and streamers in the bridge, much to Spock’s consternation…. Cap’n, ye have tae see this. A… Continue reading Hurtling to Oblivion
Equity Explained, Part 3: A Return to Fairness
As outlined in part 2 of this essay, equity as part of the EDI agenda represents a thoroughly dishonest and dangerous process of institutional capture, which subverts the historical trend of the rising freedom and empowerment of individuals, but also dissolves the natural bonds of affinity and sociality between individuals in organisations by a subtle… Continue reading Equity Explained, Part 3: A Return to Fairness
Equity Explained, Part 2: The Misdirecting Hand
“I think that there’s a lot of people more concerned about being precisely, factually, and semantically correct than about being morally right.” (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US congressional representative and activist) Equity is defined as the quality of being fair and impartial (OED). As such it is uncontroversial and clearly a good thing, something we should all… Continue reading Equity Explained, Part 2: The Misdirecting Hand
Equity Explained, Part 1: The Promise and Problems of Equality
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” (George Orwell, Animal Farm) A new wind, balmy and soothing, is blowing through the halls of academe, the corporate world and civil society generally. Its name is equity, diversity and inclusion, frequently known by the acronym EDI. Its very suggestive reasonableness – even… Continue reading Equity Explained, Part 1: The Promise and Problems of Equality
The Stars at Night, Episode 51: Cosmic Symmetries
HelloandwelcometoanotherliveepisodeofTheStarsatNightwithmePatrickMoore. Myguestthiseveningisnotwithusinbody [S**t, Patrick] butverymuchinmind. ThereasonisduetothecutsattheBBC – tofundwokehistoricalre-enactments [Cut, for f**k’s sake] – thatthespacededicatedtoscienceprogrammes istoosmalltofit hisentourage. No, it’snotBrianMay, whoiswithusinthestudio (althoughwedon’thavemuchroom formuchelsethanme, [Right] Brianandhishair), buttheheir [Groan] toNewton, thepresentLucasianProfessorofMathematicsatCambridgeUniversity, Professor Stephen Hawking, whojoinsusonline. WelcomeStephen ………..It’s-a-pleasure-to-be-here-Patrick Youareofcoursefamousforthebook ABriefHistoryofTime, which, I understand, tieswithUlyssesasbeingthemostpopularbookthatnoonehasread [S**t, Patrick] ……….Yes-that-is-correct……….the-nature-of-time-is-very-complex……….very-few-people-understand-it……….perhaps-only-Einstein-and-myself-have-understood-it Andyet youwroteabest-sellingbookaboutit ……….Well-Patrick…………I-needed-a-way-to-fund-my-entourage-and-addiction-to-advanced-voice-simulation-technology…………Ha ha! Stephen, can I ask you a question? ……….Yes-Brian……….By-the-way-my-wives-and-I-enjoyed-your-series-on-Wonders-of-the-Universe Er,… Continue reading The Stars at Night, Episode 51: Cosmic Symmetries
Collectivism and the Intolerability of Uncertainty
Collectivism is back in fashion at the moment, particularly with the young in the West, who have no experience of living in collectivist societies and who are a generation or two removed from the experience of their effects in the political sphere, and also with those who are enamoured of the moral kudos that comes… Continue reading Collectivism and the Intolerability of Uncertainty
Emancipation with a Clenched Fist: A Critique of Postmodern Critical Theory
At a time when we are encouraged to nod through policies embedding “diversity, inclusion and equality” in our places of work and subject to their ubiquitous manifestation in our entertainment industries, few recognise that this is not the spontaneous and organic growth of the desire of the mass of ordinary people but the outcome of… Continue reading Emancipation with a Clenched Fist: A Critique of Postmodern Critical Theory
The Bureaucratic and Authoritarian Implications of “The Science”
One of the victims of covid and the reactions to the pandemic, has been the reputation of science. This is best summed up in the slogan which emerged during the pandemic, the admonition to “FOLLOW THE SCIENCE!”, which was parroted by scientifically semi-literate pundits whenever anyone had the temerity to question the official version on… Continue reading The Bureaucratic and Authoritarian Implications of “The Science”