This video features Michael Sandel, a political philosophy professor at Harvard University, discussing themes from his book "The Tyranny of Merit" and the concept of the common good. Sandel examines how the divide between winners and losers in contemporary society has resulted in toxic politics and societal division, fueled by Meritocratic Hubris—the belief that those who succeed in the economy do so purely on their own merits, implying those who fail are solely to blame for their plight. This mindset has instigated a Populist backlash against elites, with figures like Donald Trump capitalizing on widespread Grievance and resentment.

Sandel critiques the notion often promoted by politicians that attending college and obtaining a degree assures success. He argues that this narrative implicitly blames those who do not succeed on their lack of credentials. The video underscores the need for political and societal changes where the successful recognize the roles desire and fortune played in their achievement, and that society should value individuals beyond their academic credentials. Sandel calls attention to the need for policies that offer real opportunities and dignity for all people, irrespective of their educational backgrounds.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. Grievance [ˈɡriːvəns] - (n.) A feeling of resentment over something believed to be wrong or unfair.

Donald Trump understands, if he understands anything, Grievance.

2. Meritocratic [ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk] - (adj.) Relating to a system in which people are chosen and moved into positions of success on the basis of their ability.

I call it Meritocratic Hubris.

3. Hubris [ˈhjuːbrɪs] - (n.) Excessive pride or self-confidence.

This Hubris is the conviction of those who have landed on top that they deserve their fate.

4. Elites [ɪˈliːts] - (n.) A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.

He himself feels a keen sense of resentment against elites.

5. Polarization [ˌpoʊləraɪˈzeɪʃən] - (n.) Division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

This turning of attitudes towards success is an indispensable part of any attempt to heal the Polarization that afflicts our politics.

6. Populist [ˈpɒpjʊlɪst] - (adj.) A member or adherent of a political party seeking to represent the interests of ordinary people.

This is the resentment that has fueled the Populist backlash against elites.

7. Credentialed [krɪˈdɛntʃəld] - (adj.) Provided with or showing the certificate that shows one has a certain status or privilege.

Elites have looked down on those less Credentialed than themselves.

8. Meritocracy [ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsi] - (n.) A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.

The successful inhale too deeply of their own success, and it leads them to look down on those less fortunate than themselves.

9. Arbiters [ˈɑːrbɪərz] - (n.) People or institutions that act as ultimate authorities in a matter.

We need to rethink the role of universities as Arbiters of opportunity.

10. Enclave [ˈɛŋkleɪv] - (n.) A distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within, or as if within, foreign territory.

And so a new politics of the common good requires that we put the dignity of work at the center of politics.

The Tyranny of Merit and the Politics of the Common Good

Donald Trump understands, if he understands anything, Grievance. My name is Michael Sandel. I teach political philosophy at Harvard University. My new book is the Tyranny of Merit. What's become of the common good? It shows how the divide between winners and losers in recent decades has poisoned our politics and pulled us apart. And it points toward a more hopeful politics of the common good.

Over the last four decades, we've seen a project of market driven globalization, and this has brought deepening inequality. More than that, it's brought attitudes towards success that make those on top believe that their success is their own doing, that they deserve the rewards that globalization has heaped upon them. I call it Meritocratic Hubris.

This Hubris is the conviction of those who have landed on top that they deserve their fate, that they deserve the benefits that globalization has heaped upon them, and that, by implication, those left behind have no one to blame but themselves. They must deserve their fate as well. This Meritocratic Hubris has generated understandable resentment among those left behind. And this is the resentment that has fueled the Populist backlash against elites.

In a fair society, those who work hard should be able to rise. If you want to Flourish in the new economy, go to college, get a degree. You too can rise. We hear this often these days from politicians across the political spectrum. On the face of it, this is an attractive offer. But it has a dark side, because it suggests that if you don't go to college, and if you don't rise, if you don't Flourish in the new economy, your failure is your fault. You have no one to blame but yourself.

Elites have looked down on those less Credentialed than themselves. And the average voter has noticed. Donald Trump understands, if he understands anything, Grievance, resentment. He himself feels a keen sense of resentment against elites. He's constantly attacking elites, academic elites, journalistic elites. I'm not going to give you a question. You are fake news. Go ahead. Even at a time when he's supposed to be leading a country out of a pandemic, he's attacking scientists and the medical establishment. But it's the key to his politics. He is able to Articulate something that mainstream politicians and political parties have missed.

He understands that people are angry against elites. This is something that the mainstream parties and politicians have missed. They will only succeed if they address this sense of elite entitlement, Meritocratic Hubris that is so galling, understandably galling to working people who are struggling to make ends meet without benefit of prestigious credentials.

So how do we fix it? First, we need to rethink the role of universities as Arbiters of opportunity. We need to find a way to make life better for people who haven't been to university. It's not enough to tell them that if you go get a diploma, then you will be able to rise. We need to redirect politics and policy to address people, people as they live their lives. These days. The successful inhale too deeply of their own success, and it leads them to look down on those less fortunate than themselves.

And so a new politics of the common good requires that we put the dignity of work at the center of politics. But it also requires something else, a certain humility among the successful, reconsidering our Meritocratic Hubris, remembering the luck and good fortune that helped us on our way. This turning of attitudes towards success is an indispensable part of any attempt to heal the Polarization that afflicts our politics. This greater measure of humility can go a long way toward pointing us to a new politics of the common good.

Harvard, Education, Economics, Meritocracy, Political Philosophy, Common Good