능력주의에 대한 반론 ―허구, 지배 그리고 평등―

Abstract

The term meritocracy first appeared in Michael Young’s satirical novel in 1958. Regardless of its origin, however, the notion has existed for a long time that one deserves a reward according to one’s own ability. In particular, the notion that social status should be distributed according to one’s talent and effort, not by inheritance of status or class, has been reinforced by the modern liberalism ideal. It has, in turn, evolved into the modern meritocracy. The concept of modern meritocracy also influenced the merit principle that “positions and rewards should be distributed according to individual merit,” as Iris Young put it. Later, in response to the demand for social equality, the principle has been employed as the core of equality of opportunity and social mobility. Nonetheless, there have been objections to meritocracy, focusing on three keywords: myth, domination, and equality. First, the concept of merit does not exist in reality, as it is impossible to measure one’s merit that is personal, controllable, objective, and value-neutral. It is also hard to distinguish between an individual’s merit, which is acquired through education or training, and her achievement, which is based purely on her talent. Second, the concept of meritocracy has played its role to justify the domination and monopoly of competent elites. Elite groups have employed the meritocracy ideology in justifying their power and privileges, and to maintain inequality in reality. Finally, as meritocracy makes possible the toleration of inequality according to merit, the meritocracy system contributes to the consolidation of unequal social relations between those with merit and those who do not. In response to these objections, I suggest that a new type of discourse on meritocracy is required. Alternatives from the new type of discourse should shift the focus of the discourse from the realization of meritocracy to the legitimacy of meritocracy. It also needs to suggest alternative measures to remove privileges, unfair practices, and negatives in distribution, design an egalitarian model, and finally, consider new ways to realize meritocracy as the law and system.