In Defense of Merit in Science

• DOI: 10.35995/jci03010001
• Publication Date: 2023-04-28T08:01:14Z
• Authors: D. Abbot; A. Bikfalvi; A.L. Bleske-Rechek; W. Bodmer; P. Boghossian; C.M. Carvalho; J. Ciccolini; J.A. Coyne; J. Gauss; P.M.W. Gill; S. Jitomirskaya; L. Jussim; A.I. Krylov; G.C. Loury; L. Maroja; J.H. McWhorter; S. Moosavi; P. Nayna Schwerdtle; J. Pearl; M.A. Quintanilla-...; H.F. Schaefer III; P.R. Schreiner; P. Schwerdtfeger; D. Shechtman; M. Shifman; J. Tanzman; B.L. Trout; A. Warshel; J.D. West
• Keywords: Pillar

Merit is a central pillar of liberal epistemology, humanism, and democracy. The scientific enterprise, built on merit, has proven effective in generating technological advances, reducing suffering, narrowing social gaps, improving the quality life globally. This perspective documents ongoing attempts to undermine core principles epistemology replace merit with non-scientific, politically motivated criteria. We explain philosophical origins this conflict, document intrusion ideology into our institutions, discuss perils abandoning offer an alternative, human-centered approach address existing inequalities.