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Essay
The Myth of “Deservedness”
How “Deserving” Masks Self-Interest
The concept of deservedness is deeply problematic and pernicious, a trojan horse that smuggles in a host of invidious assumptions and prejudices under the guise of merit and just deserts.
The only legitimate basis for social distinction and hierarchy is the freely given consent of the governed, a consent predicated on the recognition of the fundamental dignity and worth of every human being, regardless of their station or circumstance. This principle forms the foundation of a just and equitable society, ensuring that social hierarchies remain contingent upon collective agreement rather than inherited privilege or arbitrary criteria.
The social contract represents a delicate and precarious compact between the individual and the collective, a voluntary submission of one’s natural liberty in exchange for the benefits of civil society and the protection of one’s rights and freedoms.
Yet, the specter of deservedness looms large over this fragile edifice, threatening to undermine its very foundations. When individuals or groups lay claim to the mantle of deservedness, they implicitly arrogate to themselves a privileged status within the social order, a status often predicated on nothing more than the accident of birth, the caprice of…
