The Meritocratic Promise of Classical Liberalism

3.1 The Classical Foundation of Liberalism
3.2 Autonomy, Liberty, and Coercion
3.3 A Subject of Relentless Criticism
3.4 Liberal Incoherence - The 'Individual'
3.4.1 Deadly 'Heteronomy': A Case from the Netherlands
3.4.2 A Critical Interpretation of the 'Individual' in Foucault's Work
3.4.3 From Autonomy to Heteronomy and the Rupture of Continuity
3.4.4 Concluding Thoughts about an Incoherent Liberal Feature

4 AN UNFULFILLED PROMISE WORTH KEEPING?

4.1 History as a Proponent for Liberal Principles
4.2 Liberal Principles as an Antidote to the Deprivation of Individual Autonomy
4.2.1 Paternalism: A Doctrine of Benevolent Coercion
4.2.2 The Harm Principle and its Implications in the Liberal Arena
4.2.3 Against Punishment and a Perfectionist Aegis for 'Irrational' Individuals
4.2.4 Gambling with High Stakes: Liberty and Autonomy
4.2.5 Against the Universal Rejection of Autonomy: Soft Paternalism

PART II

5 'GENUINE MERITOCRACY'
IN AN AGE OF MARKET TRIUMPHALISM?

5.1 Marketization: A Means for Greater Efficiency Gone Rogue
5.1.1 Pathologies of Market Societies
5.1.2 Marketization as a Corrupting Force in Higher Education
5.2 Merit and Opportunity: The Aristocracy of Talent
5.2.1 Meritocracy: From Dystopian Satire to Acclaimed Ideology
5.2.2 Of Broken Ladders, Snakes, and the Tyranny of Merit
5.2.3 A Genuine Meritocracy Worth Wanting?

6 EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY: MERIT ON EVEN PLAYING FIELDS

6.1 Higher Education: The Great Equalizer
6.2 Equalizing the Unequal: An Environment of Imperfect Solutions
6.2.1 Equality of Opportunity: A Doctrine of Intuitive Appeal
6.2.2 The Meritocratic Conception: Deserving the Undeserved
6.2.3 Affirmative Action: A Controversial Fix
6.3 Allied Visions for 'Libertarian Welfarism'

7 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

LIST OF REFERENCES