Subject of research: This work philosophical analysis is concerned with the relation between the ideas of quality and meritocracy. The axiom of liberalism, the equality of opportunities, states that thanks to their endeavour, individuals have a chance to improve their life quality. Thus, people with similar abilities have a similar chance to achieve their goals. Meritocracy was to guarantee the implementation of the tenet. The attempt to build a meritocratic society is not a novelty in the history of the humankind. The history of western civilisation is the arena of a dispute between the supporters of meritocracy over democracy, like the doctrine of Plato, and the advocates of democracy at the expense of meritocracy, which is represented by the philosophy of J. J. Rousseau. A system of education based on the principles of the philosophy of Confucius, is worth consideration. The philosopher claimed that putting well educated officials on top of the social hierarchy was the measure to eliminate egoism, nepotism and ethnocentrism and accomplish the ideal of a full social harmony. At present meritocracy is widely criticised. It is reproached for creating a new oligarchy, since it encourages the process of segregation of individuals on the base of their natural abilities. There also the advocates of a compromise between the extremities of meritocracy and egalitarian populism. Purpose of research: The subject of the work was to pay attention to the relations between the ideas of equality and meritocracy in the chosen legal paradigms. Methods: a theoretical and historical discourse.