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ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel communityELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel communityPosted Apr 22, 2008 15:44 UTC (Tue) by madscientist (subscriber, #16861)In reply to: ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community by fjf33 Parent article: ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community
> To me it looks more like an aristocracy where the best and the brightest > have absolute control based on internally developed conventions and > pressures. Their power comes from 'knowing' what is best and right, which > is the main reason why they don't abuse their powers. This is called a meritocracy. An aristocracy is where rule is hereditary.
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ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:11 UTC (Thu) by lysse (guest, #3190) [Link] In fact, the word "aristocracy" derives from the Greek for "rule by the best". (It's also worth noting that the coiner of the term "meritocracy" - presumably "rule by the most deserving" - saw it as a *dystopian* ideal; and it doesn't take too much imagination to see that what starts out as meritocracy soon ossifies into aristocracy.)
Linux kernel: aristocracy? Posted Apr 25, 2008 3:40 UTC (Fri) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link] In fact, the word "aristocracy" derives from the Greek for "rule by the best". Sure, but that doesn't mean the best individuals to rule. The original users could have meant rule by the class of people that is defined to be superior rulers or even superior people. In 1561 (which is apparently the earliest use of it), it was common to divide people into such classes, and it was usually done the same way species are: by bloodlines. I just looked to see what two American English dictionaries had to say about it, and one says solidly that it's a "best class," based on heredity. And the other says its either that or the best individuals.
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