The Meritocracy Myth

Language philosopher Bry Willis explores how the term meritocracy, originally coined as a satirical warning, has been repurposed into a tool for legitimising power. The author argues that society often uses the word to reason backwards, falsely assuming that the act of being selected for a role is definitive proof of an individual's underlying competence. This creates a circular logic where merit is not an objective measurement of skill but a relational label used to reward loyalty or exclude perceived enemies. By flattening complex human capacities into a single, arbitrary ranking, the system prioritises those who are adept at navigating hierarchies over those who possess actual expertise. Ultimately, the source suggests that meritocracy functions as a cynical instrument of social sorting that relies on the sincere belief of the public to maintain its authority.👉 https://open.substack.com/pub/brywillis634737/p/the-merits-of-meritocracy