The Peter Principle
Origin
1969 book by Laurence Peter (with Raymond Hull). The hierarchy pattern: good performers get promoted; if they perform in the new role, promoted again. Eventually they reach a role they cannot perform — and stop promoting. **Every position is eventually filled by someone unable to do that job.** Peter discovered this pattern as a teacher observing Canadian school administration.
Meaning
Why an excellent engineer becomes a poor manager. Why a top salesperson becomes a mediocre director. Technical skill and management skill differ, but hierarchies measure on one dimension. Why modern tech companies separate "manager track" from "expert track".
Lesson — Meeting Eastern Classics
Analects: "A gentleman is not a tool." Hierarchies define people as one tool, then move them to another. Confucius's call to multi-dimensional virtue is the antithesis of the Peter Principle's warning.
"階" combines hill (阝) with "all" (皆) — a hill all must climb, steps, hierarchy. The Great Learning's eight steps move from observing things to bringing peace to the world. The Peter Principle is the tragedy of 階 — steps do not create the ability to climb them.
