Realizing the Ideals of Twenty-First Century Intellectualism: Redefining the Concept of a Meritocracy for Greater Scientific and Intellectual Output

The objective of this paper is to investigate how the goals of twenty-first century intellectualism can be realized by steering the concept of meritocracy in the directions of contemporary, twenty-first century definitions of the term. We begin this paper by reviewing some of the initiatives we had taken in the past, and then review the concepts associated with the term “meritocracy” along with its history. We also review the divergent opinions for and against meritocracy, and also contrast it with the concept of mediocracy. We also review the movements centered on the ideals of meritocracy, and review the importance of talent recognition, rewards and recognition, leadership styles, and parenting styles as well. We also then explain how there could be cultural variations of the term meritocracy, and also explain the need to keep such variations to the minimum; this is because meritocracy is more of less a universal concept. Therefore, the concepts of cultural relativism and cultural absolutism are explained along with mind orientation and cultural orientation. The importance of the right kind of pedagogical content in realizing the objectives of twenty-first century meritocracy are also explored along with twenty-first century intellectualism, and other allied issues such as twenty-first century journalism. Thus, old approaches need to be weeded out, and all these concepts brought firmly into the twenty-first century. We hope, anticipate and expect that this paper will become one of the most important papers on the globalization of science by providing a rudder upon which the ideals of our movement can be placed.