From Meritocracy to Human Interdependence: Redefining the Purpose of Education

Purpose This paper critiques meritocracy's foundational assumptions, arguing that its focus on ranking individuals according to flawed metrics fosters unhealthy competition, overlooks diverse human talents, fails to account for unequal starting points, and ultimately hinders both individual fulfillment and societal progress. We propose an alternative framework, the Human Interdependence Paradigm, which redefines the purpose of education. HIP emphasizes cultivating unique individual greatness. It posits that the value of this greatness is realized through applying it to solve meaningful real-world problems for others, fostering a sense of purpose and mutual reliance. HIP aims to create learning environments that promote collaboration, social intelligence, and ultimately, a more equitable and flourishing society. Design/Approach/Methods Theoretical analysis from historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives. Findings Meritocracy has misguided education and society because of its narrow definition of merit and negligence of human differences. Education in the 21st century needs to move away from the narrow definition of merit toward human interdependence, which emphasizes the unique greatness of individuals. Originality/Value This article challenges the widely accepted concept of meritocracy, which has been used in schools and societies to justify standardized testing, college admissions, and distribution of social capital, and proposes a new concept for education.