2023/04/28 by D. Abbot, A. Bikfalvi, A.L. Bleske-Rechek +26 · 1 voice · 40 citations
Decision Sciences · Engineering · #Artificial intelligence #Computer science #Democracy #Engineering #Epistemology #Humanism #Ideology #Inequality #Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration #Law #Perspective (graphical) #Philosophy #Pillar #Political science #Politics #Quality (philosophy) #Sociology
paper · pdf · doi:10.35995/jci03010001
published in Journal of Controversial Ideas 3(1), 1 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
openalex publication_date 2023/04/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Merit is a central pillar of liberal epistemology, humanism, and democracy. The scientific enterprise, built on merit, has proven effective in generating scientific and technological advances, reducing suffering, narrowing social gaps, and improving the quality of life globally. This perspective documents the ongoing attempts to undermine the core principles of liberal epistemology and to replace merit with non-scientific, politically motivated criteria. We explain the philosophical origins of this conflict, document the intrusion of ideology into our scientific institutions, discuss the perils of abandoning merit, and offer an alternative, human-centered approach to address existing social inequalities.