Chang Pei-pei points out that as opposed to the Han dynasty, when morality was the chief criterion for selecting ministers, the Jin-Wei era marked the advent of the Chinese meritocracy, and "talent" became viewed as the paramount consideration for official appointments. But once talent became the sole criterion, morals could not help but suffer.
張蓓蓓指出，有別於漢朝以德性「孝廉」取士，魏晉第一次提出了中國以「才」取人的標準，所謂唯才是用，德行不足也無妨。