On Competence

      On Competence

In the past I have heard one proclaim that modern society is based off of some hierarchy of competence. The proposed idea seems straightforward and quite intuitive. In this post, I would like to contest the conjecture. Albeit I think that, perhaps there may be some validity to the proposition.

I would like to make the proclamation that I am not opposed to the idea and think that competence mixed with ‘healthy’ competition is a positive thing. When anyone is given an equal opportunity to display his/her competence then a society shall be worthwhile and have something of value to a finite planet.  

I would like to state that as foolish as theism is I deem so called ‘scholars’ such as Jordan Peterson as apart of (what has been coined) the “Intellectual Dark Web” in a new movement that has been spreading. One point (of many) that is brought up by this ‘friend’ that the Nazis were so successful due to the swift and efficient manner in which the Nazis operated in. This example is used to demonstrate the significance for competence. While there is not much doubt that Hitler’s “administration” (polite term) was efficient and very “good at killing Jewish people”. It is the philosophy of individuals of pseudoscience who (perhaps) fail to realise that the truth of the matter is that the political party of the Nazis (the National Socialist Party of Germany) were in charge, had there have been no (or little amount of) consent (initially) among the German people- the ideas behind the philosophy of the Nazis would not have been popular among Germans. I would like to remind you all that Adolf Hitler was a very popular cult of personality for Germany. The Germans needed to play the blame game for the troubles brought on by World War I. Essentially, Hitler’s power came from a deep place (that we have yet to understand) of torment, charisma, and the ability to sleep at night as a complete sociopath. There was talent involved as there was with Joseph Goebbels (Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945). However, other scholars did not have their opportunity to display their abilities to demonize Gypsies, Homosexuals, Jewish people, and other outcasts.

What is to be said about the individuals who happen to come about wealth and opportunity from networking and good fortune? I am not sure that everyone who is successful is necessarily extremely competent, plenty of professionals go on day to day with any substantive knowledge about their occupations. It is difficult to make a case that not many individuals have poor sets of skills for their jobs.  

Albert Einstein had competence, as did Kurt Godel. However, how about the millions of (currently) undiscovered swimmers, singers, actors, models, artists, etc. all of whom are pinching pennies because (American) football and basketball, etc. are more important? Unfortunately, those with competence are not well known and are not at all wealthy. Ask your neighbor who Paul Cohen is, ask your neighbor who Grigori Perelman, Alan Guth, Leonard Susskind, Hugh Woodin, Edward Witten is. What are important names today? Kardashian, Hilary Clinton, Justin Bieber, George Bush, David Beckham, Mariah Carey are all contemporary pop icons. I would not call Paris Hilton competent in any respect.

Competence does play a part in determining one’s confidence level (this unfortunately does determine one’s self worth and his worth to a society). The United States of America is, at the end of the day where one can immigrate to in order to sell out (def.- “sell out” is defined, in this case, to be a verb such as “I am going to sell out”. When one sells out one does a task for money and in return his or her product does not belong to him/her. He/she essentially sell their soul. If an individual does not wish to be a sellout, one shall never be rich). Over the past three decades, the role of money has increased more and more in the west (the heart of the western world is the United States). It is clear that there are not many hierarchies based on competence alone. It would be an easier case to state that their are hierarchies based on one’s confidence levels. There are times when competence comes (and brings) confidence. I don't think that anyone needs to be reminded that managers are not competent people. Look at Donald Trump, he is a silly anomaly. However, it must be questioned whether President Trump is a true anomaly. He is not a one-off. Trump is the norm and is a testament to how the norm has been in business and hence in society for multiple decades. Trump does not care about anything truly meaningful and never has.

Ruthless, cut-throat mentalities are simply not good mentalities to live. Not only is there nothing that noble about them but there are simply more advantages (for beings that care about quality of life) for conscious beings associated with lifestyles that are more sustainable.   

For the past 35 years there has been a decline of everything positive in a society (real education, real positive ethics and morality). Individuals can make a living in the USA, one cannot become a millionaire, billionaire, trillionaire, etc. one shall chase his delusions and fantasies.