Part of a more general problem for some Progressives, the failure to emphasize the win-win aspects of the policies they favor. Racism/homophobia/xenophobia doesn't really improve the lives of racists, homophobes and xenophobes. SOME things that might be done to overcome racism/homophobia/xenophobia, etc., would. Let's try to find and do those things.
One mathematical concept I wish was in wider circulation is the notion of a "partially ordered set." That is, you can talk in a mathematically well-defined way about how you can have two elements x and y where x is definitely greater than y, but simultaneously have a third element z where x and z are not comparable. So much discussion around meritocracy seems to presume that applicants are actually strictly ordered by merit. Or conversely, that if you find a pair whose order is ambiguous that you have to throw out the entire idea of anyone having more merit than anyone else. Most times, applicants or candidates are partially ordered by merit.
Part of a more general problem for some Progressives, the failure to emphasize the win-win aspects of the policies they favor. Racism/homophobia/xenophobia doesn't really improve the lives of racists, homophobes and xenophobes. SOME things that might be done to overcome racism/homophobia/xenophobia, etc., would. Let's try to find and do those things.
One mathematical concept I wish was in wider circulation is the notion of a "partially ordered set." That is, you can talk in a mathematically well-defined way about how you can have two elements x and y where x is definitely greater than y, but simultaneously have a third element z where x and z are not comparable. So much discussion around meritocracy seems to presume that applicants are actually strictly ordered by merit. Or conversely, that if you find a pair whose order is ambiguous that you have to throw out the entire idea of anyone having more merit than anyone else. Most times, applicants or candidates are partially ordered by merit.