Clarification of intent and scope
Before discussing the details of the framework, it is important to clarify few points in regard to the intent and scope of this paper. First, this paper is not intended to review the literature on the many challenges of academia (e.g., publish or perish), as these are not directly within the scope of the proposed framework and have been thoroughly described elsewhere [see e.g., (Lee, 2014; Mayer & Rathmann, 2018; Munar et al., 2017; Yamada, 2019)]. Likewise, the framework is not a direct attack towards academic institutions per se but rather a criticism of the criteria for the distribution of goods that have been implemented by these institutions. Note that the arguments used here do not imply that individual members that are part of the academic institutions, or the academic community more broadly are unfair. Unfairness can arise (unconsciously) as long as the criteria by which distributive good are partitioned are unfair. In other words, all scientists can act fairly upon a system that is inherently unfair, thereby generating unfair outcomes. Third, this is not an attack to a group or sub-group of individuals in our society (e.g., males), nor is this advocating for discrimination against – or preferential treatment towards – specific groups. Rather, this paper aims to provide a framework that could lay the foundation of fair academic environment for all, regardless of their (protected) characteristics. Later, I discuss how this framework would be the most rational option for everyone if inequalities are known factors in the system and each individual does not know their place in the academic community (i.e., veil of ignorance described below). With these points clarified, I shall now move to the first part of the paper.