In a race, a person who runs faster and wins first place is a better runner than the rest.
Yes in the context of a race, that doesn't make him a better person than you overall.
If a classmate and I both started from 0 with 0 experience in a subject and he ends up doing better than me, that means he is more talented in that subject.
There could be other factors as well, assuming it was a test, maybe you were anxious, tired or sleepy. Maybe you are not performing at your best. Even if we ignore these real world conditions and assume everything is perfect. that doesn't necessarily have to be constant. If you are a kid for example, your brain would still be developing which is why IQ tests given to children can be inaccurate, you could end up becoming more talented in the area as you grow up or maybe he could have a nasty accident or injury that could destroy his ability in the area.
If I had power over my classmate that doesn't make me superior or better than him in such subject, let's say, math. If I had the power to decide whether he lives or die without facing any charge, that doesn't mean I'm better at math or superior than him. The only thing that means is that I have power over his life.
Ah this is where you are wrong, the same kind of tERrifying action could give him a traumatic brain injury making him lose his ability to perform math, making you superior to him in that area.
People are better than other people, that makes certain people superior and others inferior.
The fact that those attributes can be improved doesn't make you less inferior as of now. Consider also that there are certain things that you cannot improve and surpass other people in, no matter how much you want. So you're set to be inferior to others for the rest of your life.
Inborn abilities can greatly vary, but most people are close to average, which means effort and knowledge can help people surpass most others people. How you perform compared to another person at a given moment is much more important than what that person's true ability in the area is, compare yourself to someone who never received education in an area but is more talented than you, meaning you'd still do better.
Even then, most of the traits which are favored have nothing to do with ability to complete tasks. Take looks, height, social skills, or like-ability for example, these have little impact on capability, but form the majority of the criteria of what people use to judge your value. To believe someone is better than you just because their facial bones are more attractive or their skin is lighter, is ridiculous.
