Having lived in Bulgaria, I can assure you virtually every facet of government is highly corrupt. The corruption is so rampant I found myself maintaining a separate ledger that included bribes to local officials, police, and military. I say this not to insult the people of Bulgaria, who I have found to be among the kindest, generous, and warmest people in the world, but to remind you that it is not the form of governance that matters it is those who govern.
4:35 is a big problem for a lot of people. Yes on paper anyone has an equal opportunity, but we are all different and we will all get different responses from the world about who we are. If you want to be famous its going to take a certain mix of looks and talent and you may find out that you don't have "it." If you are smart or have a great business idea, there is a chance it won't work out, even if you are gifted and the idea would work, just through chance. Your life is a rolling dice....
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His idea of merit fails when you listen to the accents! Himself and the rich people he wishes to accord status have his own accent, the others have local ones.
He also confuses history with argument when suggesting that the social argument over the years has lost, it lost by the force of arms against it not by the logic of its argument.
Meritocracy rewards financially just a little fraction of people in our society. Meritocracy is made over the principle that we have all the same abilities and opportunities and this is simply not true. The fact is just the contrary: we don't have the same abilities and we don't have the same opportunities. Meritocracy is the world to legitimate those (perhaps less than 10%) who have succeed financially. Just one of many, many examples : meritocracy apply for mentally ill ???
Status Anxiety emerges today principally because of the unjust meritocratic society. Aristocratic society was not just, nor the meritocratic. The first rewarded financially almost the same families over the centuries. The meritocratic society rewards financially just a minor fraction of the population, those who have specific abilities and opportunities in life. The vast majority of people that don't have the abilities or the opportunities struggle with status anxiety.
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Fellas face at 3:24...looks like he's thinking that topping himself might be a better option than clocking on for his next shift!!!.
majohnno 7 months ago
Fellas face at 3:24...looks like he's thinking that topping himself might be a better option than clocking on for his next shift!!!
majohnno 7 months ago
Wasn't it Toby's dad who wrote a famous paper on the dangers of meritocracy? Ah, there it is, 4.20
kaiserinaz 1 year ago
Wasn't it Toby's dad who wrote a famous paper on the dangers of meritocracy?
kaiserinaz 1 year ago
only someone who has never lived in a socialist country can believe in naive socialist dreams. Cheers from [now] democratic Bulgaria!
ElleFr0st 1 year ago
@ElleFr0st
Don't know how socialism works there in Bulgaria but here in Belgium it's a rather pleasant "naive dream" indeed ;)
WhateverWasLeft 8 months ago
@ElleFr0st
Having lived in Bulgaria, I can assure you virtually every facet of government is highly corrupt. The corruption is so rampant I found myself maintaining a separate ledger that included bribes to local officials, police, and military. I say this not to insult the people of Bulgaria, who I have found to be among the kindest, generous, and warmest people in the world, but to remind you that it is not the form of governance that matters it is those who govern.
H3TCykaCT0 6 days ago
@H3TCykaCT0 noone argues about that :) I just think that even this new corrupt version is far better than socialistic bulgaria.
ElleFr0st 3 days ago
4:35 is a big problem for a lot of people. Yes on paper anyone has an equal opportunity, but we are all different and we will all get different responses from the world about who we are. If you want to be famous its going to take a certain mix of looks and talent and you may find out that you don't have "it." If you are smart or have a great business idea, there is a chance it won't work out, even if you are gifted and the idea would work, just through chance. Your life is a rolling dice....
CMink7777 1 year ago
That factory is super depressing.
jazz4 1 year ago 7
He's noticeably handsome.
insanecaine 2 years ago 3
Interesting video. Provokes discussion.
speakingeye 2 years ago
Thanks for putting this up. Big fan of De Botton
Ginlah 2 years ago 10
Factory manager: "We're not overbrimming with talent."
ineby42 2 years ago 7
did anyone notice the ironic animal farm mural done by the kids in the background?
vincentglassisaghost 2 years ago 14
This comment has received too many negative votes show
His idea of merit fails when you listen to the accents! Himself and the rich people he wishes to accord status have his own accent, the others have local ones.
He also confuses history with argument when suggesting that the social argument over the years has lost, it lost by the force of arms against it not by the logic of its argument.
perfidil 4 years ago
Your own preconceptions about accents are absolutely what make your own argument fail.
thekissingpigs 3 years ago
whats your actual arguement about be specific?? I look forward to the last chapters. I hope he adds his solution.
Quantum148 3 years ago
Meritocracy rewards financially just a little fraction of people in our society. Meritocracy is made over the principle that we have all the same abilities and opportunities and this is simply not true. The fact is just the contrary: we don't have the same abilities and we don't have the same opportunities. Meritocracy is the world to legitimate those (perhaps less than 10%) who have succeed financially. Just one of many, many examples : meritocracy apply for mentally ill ???
edewasseige 4 years ago
Excellent !!!
edewasseige 4 years ago
Status Anxiety emerges today principally because of the unjust meritocratic society. Aristocratic society was not just, nor the meritocratic. The first rewarded financially almost the same families over the centuries. The meritocratic society rewards financially just a minor fraction of the population, those who have specific abilities and opportunities in life. The vast majority of people that don't have the abilities or the opportunities struggle with status anxiety.
edewasseige 4 years ago