Interview, 3-part documentary "2021: Do You Live in a Fair World?", Seoul National University
8 November 2021 (Episode 2) and 29 November 2021 (Episode 3)
In this documentary titled "2021: Do You Live in a Fair World?". Kenneth Paul Tan appeared in Episode 2 on 8 November 2021 ("The Meritocracy Myth") and Episode 3 ("Beyond Meritocracy and Fairness") on 29 November 2021. He discussed basic definitions and the origins of the idea of meritocracy, its internal contradictions, how merit is determined, meritocracy in Singapore's national development, and lifelong learning. The documentary also featured Joseph Fishkin (Law Professor at UCLA) and Daniel Markovits (Law Professor at Yale University).
The full documentary is in Korean, but excerpts featuring Kenneth Paul Tan speaking in English are provided below:
EPISODE 2: THE MERITOCRACY MYTH
Extract 1: Basic definitions and origins of meritocracy
Extract 2: Contradictions of meritocracy
Extract 3: How to determine merit
EPISODE 3: BEYOND MERITOCRACY AND FAIRNESS
Extract 4: Meritocracy in the Singapore model, its brand, and its soft power
Extract 5: Meritocracy's decay in Singapore
Extract 6: The limits of lifelong learning, taking starting points more seriously