mèrit

Mèrit is a term used to denote the quality of deserving reward or praise. The spelling with a grave accent is not standard in major languages; the closest equivalents are mérité or mérite in French and merit in English.

Etymology and meaning: Derived from the Latin meritum meaning "deserved reward," merit refers to the worth of an action, quality, or person that justifies reward or acknowledgment. It contrasts with luck or entitlement unrelated to performance. Philosophically, merit involves questions about whether and to what extent individuals deserve recognition, rewards, or advancement based on their conduct, abilities, or character.

Contexts of use: In moral philosophy, merit is discussed as a component of desert—the idea that a person deserves favorable treatment for their actions or dispositions. In law, the merits of a case refer to the substantive issues and justifications for a decision, as opposed to procedural aspects. In political theory, meritocracy describes systems that allocate offices and rewards according to merit rather than birth, wealth, or status. In everyday language, merit often underpins evaluations of performance, achievement, or worthiness for rewards.

Criticism and debate: Debates about merit concern whether merit can be objectively measured and whether social arrangements can be truly merit-based given unequal opportunities and biases. Critics argue that strict meritocratic models can reproduce or exacerbate inequality and overlook factors such as luck, privilege, and social obligation. Proponents contend that recognizing merit encourages effort, competence, and fair competition.

See also: meritocracy, desert, virtue, reward.