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
Cover Feature: Disappearing Polymorphs in Metal–Organic Framework Chemistry: Unexpected Stabilization of a Layered Polymorph over an Interpenetrated Three‐Dimensional Structure in Mercury Imidazolate (Chem. Eur. J. 8/2020)
- Award ID(s):
- 1665327
- PAR ID:
- 10193605
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemistry – A European Journal
- Volume:
- 26
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 0947-6539
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1696 to 1696
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
An official website of the United States government

