Tra merito e talenti: le criticità di due concetti

Reviewing the considerations presented in Roger Abravanel’s book “Aristocrazia 2.0. Una nuova élite per salvare l’Italia”, this essay aims to propose a reflection about the concept of “merit”, highlighting how strong is the connection between this idea and the category of “human person”, whose talents ‒ incomparable, various and always unique ‒ must obtain an adequate recognition in the society. This paper highlights the critical aspects of a paradigm which, considering only one type of excellence, promotes exclusion and inequality: in particular, the essay emphasises the crucial role played by the education and training system.