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"I have some questions. Is ‘Authentic’ a skill? Is ‘Opportunistic’ a skill? How about; ‘Emotional Intelligence’, ‘Ethical’, ‘Authentic’, ‘Cognitive Flexibility’?" I would call these things qualities, and would also assert that the humanities are a vehicle for developing them. Sadly the humanities have been relegated to a lower tier of importance when it comes to education; Somewhat of a luxury item.

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Andrew we are on the same page, in the same boat. Qualities, characteristics, traits ... I think they are innately part of who you are, not so easily trainable - as I wrote :

>"It seems to me that the lists of ‘skills’ that we apparently need in ‘the’ future are actually a conflation of ‘skills’ and ‘characteristics’. Maybe this is the old nature -v- nurture argument, but to me, there is no doubt that a skill is something you learn, your character is something you are born with. Moreover, the traits and characteristics that you are born with will result in it being easier (or harder) to learn skills."

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Yes, not so trainable. More to be cultivated. I would agree that these characteristics are something we are born with, however, without nurture they may lay dormant and undiscovered. Moreover, someone who shows no evidence of a given quality can have an awakening as a result of a life event. It is a regrettable thing that humans have decided to value a domain where we will be comparatively weak compared to machines (logic) over a domain where we have limitless potential (awareness).

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Not sure that we humans DO value (say) logic over awareness - i think the transaction-oriented, task-driven corporations do - because that is how they are structured. They are the ultimate machine and now computers, ai, robotics, machine learning is making their task easier and easier - and so less and less need for humans in the loop. Of course 'all' of our education is focussed on teaching us stuff to do stuff - not to think for ourselves, so being 'replaced' is scary. Of course, companies assure us that we are not being replaced, but that the AI is simply going to enhance our positions in those companies. Really?

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