Competence, not power, determines status in functioning societies.

Evidence

In societies that are well-functioning—not in comparison to a hypothetical utopia, but contrasted with other existing or historical cultures—competence, not power, is a prime determiner of status. … Furthermore, the most valid personality trait predictors of long-term success in Western countries are intelligence (as measured with cognitive ability or IQ tests) and conscientiousness (a trait characterized by industriousness and orderliness). — Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life An Antidote to Chaos, 910

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life An Antidote to Chaos, 910
• XREF: connects to: The fundamental form of power is defining reality — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 387; Loyalty prioritized over competence produced inefficient Egyptian officers; Authority rests on learned competence within a division of labor, not grace — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 217 (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• Power functions like a catalyst, not a cause, in social systems #complicates (0.85)
• Social consensus precedes individual competence in judgment #contradicts (0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 268