Is meritocracy truly merit-based?

Meritocracy, as discussed by guests on The Lunar Society with Dwarkesh Patel, has nuanced viewpoints.

Bryan Caplan argues that meritocracy is effective and widely appreciated, emphasizing the importance of focusing on talent and efficiency rather than demographic representation. He warns against the slippery slope of prioritizing group representation over merit, suggesting that such an approach may ultimately detract from achieving genuine progress and knowledge 1.

Andrew Roberts shares historical examples from Napoleon's reign, where Napoleon favored meritocracy by selecting advisors and generals based on their abilities rather than their social status. Roberts notes that many of Napoleon's marshals came from humble backgrounds, illustrating how meritocracy allowed talented individuals to rise irrespective of their origins 2.

Overall, both clips from the podcast suggest that while meritocracy is generally seen as effective, its implementation and the societal biases it may encounter can affect how merit-based it truly is.