Sen, Merit and Justice

Question 1

What forces shape our concept of merit?

Answer 1

• The concept of merit is deeply contingent on our views of a good society
• Merit is defined based on the goals and priorities of a particular society, which makes it inherently flexible and subject to change

Question 2

What are the two ways of seeing merit and rewarding it?

Answer 2

• Incentives: rewards are given based on the positive outcomes and good consequences an action produces
• Action priority: actions are judges by their inherent moral correctness, independent of their outcomes

Question 3

What does Sen argue about merit and incentive?

Answer 3

• Argues that incentive systems are integral to any well-functioning society
• Raises ethical concerns about how incentive-based systems influence behavior