Yes, this is true. But I think it's more complex than this. Society /relies/ on competence for its continued existence, but it doesn't necessarily value it in

Yes, this is true. But I think it's more complex than this. Society /relies/ on competence for its continued existence, but it doesn't necessarily value it innately. Kind of referencing back to the person you replied to, the market values competence not society, but it does it out of necessity. Having competent people in all fields helps to accelerate your ability to grow, become profitable, and reduces mistakes. The bulk of people in the West are apathetic without much care for their work, and care is nearly an inherent prerequisite of competence, as competence is something you develop and are not born with. You develop competence through focused practice and the care to understand. Clearly, while we rely on competence, it's not so highly valued.