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.