What does this research mean for the field?

Meritocracy functions primarily as an ideological mechanism that legitimizes structural inequalities by individualizing social outcomes, rendering it conceptually and empirically untenable in real social contexts. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This article critiques the concept of meritocracy, arguing it's an ideological mechanism that obscures structural inequalities.

March 13, 2026SHILAP Revista de lepidopterologíaOpen Access

The fallacy of meritocracy in the real-life social order

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Authors

LSLucas Teles da Silva DADimitri Marques Abramov

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Overview

Critiques meritocracy's role in legitimizing inequalities, revealing its failure in equitable society.

Key Points

This article critiques the concept of meritocracy, arguing it's an ideological mechanism that obscures structural inequalities.
Analyzes historical and contemporary perspectives on meritocracy.
Examines six dimensions of human development affecting meritocratic claims.
Critiques the relationship between meritocracy and systemic social inequality.
Demonstrates that true equivalence required for meritocracy is structurally impossible.
Finds meritocracy serves to legitimize pre-existing inequalities in wealth, race, and education.
Shows redistributive policies are necessary responses to structural inequalities rather than exceptions.

Cite This Study

Silva et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69b3aaa802a1e69014ccb655 https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2026.1766088

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March 13, 2026SHILAP Revista de lepidopterologíaOpen Access

The fallacy of meritocracy in the real-life social order

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

LSLucas Teles da Silva DADimitri Marques Abramov

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Critiques meritocracy's role in legitimizing inequalities, revealing its failure in equitable society.

Key Points

This article critiques the concept of meritocracy, arguing it's an ideological mechanism that obscures structural inequalities.
Analyzes historical and contemporary perspectives on meritocracy.
Examines six dimensions of human development affecting meritocratic claims.
Critiques the relationship between meritocracy and systemic social inequality.
Demonstrates that true equivalence required for meritocracy is structurally impossible.
Finds meritocracy serves to legitimize pre-existing inequalities in wealth, race, and education.
Shows redistributive policies are necessary responses to structural inequalities rather than exceptions.

Cite This Study

Silva et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69b3aaa802a1e69014ccb655 https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2026.1766088

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark