A fourth splendid lecture. If the term "merit" is extended to take account of circumstances or requirements external to the nature of the candidate, we are done for.
There is a very old joke about Kekewich, J., which is that counsel in opening an appeal from one of his judgments started, "My lords, this an appeal from Mr. Justice Kekewich - but there are other grounds of appeal".
How timely a lecture for the U.S., as the Supreme Court, now lopsidedly conservative 6-3 because of the shenanigans described here, is about to take up an abortion case from the state of Mississippi. Prevailing thought is that if the court upholds the law it will open up a floodgate of similar legislation in other states.
Merit just like ability is not equally spread and thus can’t be depicted by or through diversity. You have a choice diversity or Merit you can’t have both
