Merit is a central pillar of liberal epistemology, humanism, and democracy. The scientific enterprise, built on merit, has proven effective in generating scientific and technological advances, reducing suffering, narrowing social gaps, and improving the quality of life globally. This perspective documents the ongoing attempts to undermine the core principles of liberal epistemology and to replace merit with non-scientific, politically motivated criteria. We explain the philosophical origins of this conflict, document the intrusion of ideology into our scientific institutions, discuss the perils of abandoning merit, and offer an alternative, human-centered approach to address existing social inequalities.
more »
« less
Carbon cycling in the Sargasso Sea water column: Insights from lipid biomarkers in suspended particles
- Award ID(s):
- 1829885
- PAR ID:
- 10109724
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Progress in Oceanography
- Volume:
- 168
- Issue:
- C
- ISSN:
- 0079-6611
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 248 to 278
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
An official website of the United States government

