The Tyranny of Merit highlights the hubris meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgement it imposes on those left behind. Meritocratic hubris reflects the tendency of winners to inhale too deeply of their success, to forget the luck and good fortune that helped them on their way. This will not only cause unequal distribution of wealth, but also creating the hierarchy of esteem that will interrupt the common good.
The tragic indication of the damaged morale of the working class can now be seen in a phenomenon called "deaths of despair". It is the epidemic deaths caused by suicides, drug overdoses and alcoholic liver disease among the lower socio-economic society and those without tertiary education. It is not due to rising in poverty per se but more due to widening gap in quality of life, serious mental distress and decline in ability to work and to socialize.
Besides offering the equality of opportunity, we should also provide a broad equality of condition that enables those who do not achieve great wealth and prestigious positions, to live lives of decency and dignity – exercising and developing their abilities in work that wins social esteem and participate in the culture of learning and public affairs. Men not only free to rise to new positions of comfort and distinction; they are also should be able to lead a life of dignity and culture, whether they rise or not. We should rethink our attitudes towards success and failure in the era of globalization and rising inequality.
In summary, according to Professor Sandel, we need three aspects for the rethinking for common good in our civic life:
1. Role of colleges and universities
2. Dignity of work
3. Meaning of success
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