Meritocracy | Definition, Education, Criticism, & Facts | Britannica Money
meritocracy, political, social, or economic system in which individuals are assigned to positions of power, influence, or reward solely on the basis of their abilities and achievements and not on the basis of their social, cultural, or economic background or irrelevant personal characteristics. Meritocracy represents a rejection of hereditary aristocracy and nepotism. The theory of meritocracy presupposes the possibility of equality of opportunity. The basic elements of the concept of meritocracy are displayed in the Republic, a dialogue by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato (428/427–348/347 bce), who advocated a society in which each person would belong to one of three classes—rulers (philosophers), guardians (soldiers), and producers (farmers and craftsmen)—based on their natural abilities. A much later, historical example of the meritocratic stance was that of Napoleon I (1769–1821), who claimed (while in exile in St. Helena) that his maxim as leader of France had been “la carrière
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