A response to Steve's post.

This was supposed to be a comment to Steve's latest post on his blog, but it ended up being too long. Anyways, here is Steve's original post.

Great subject man. Whenever someone talks about god; Kafka, Camus, Dostoevsky, Goethe flashes into mind? Yes! hehe

Hapiness here does not have to mean something depressing as a gauge for success. For some, happiness does not come from a single origin, although sucess can be one of them. It's a matter of priorities, really. For example, if you had already achieved financial success at early age, you might feel that something else is lacking.

The human relentless persuit for power trasncend love, great historical power struggles shows a lot of betrayal through history. Even so, Machiavelli felt compelled to show that power can be acquired not through love but through ruthlessness. Power is of a personal satisfaction, rather than mutual understanding and love. Others might perceive attracted to your power, but is that really love? Or just a lust for a share of the power you command?

Freedom is power in desguise. Often times masked under "noble" democratic values and other as such though human history. The "democratic freedom" US foreign policy pushes outside our shores are seen as an exertion of US military power, rather then freedom? Why? Because freedom is power. In order to exert our freedom we must be able to command same amount in power to make it happen. Which brings the second law of thermodynamics. Like energy, which is often called power, is finite, cannot be created nor destroyed. My power to exert freedom, interferes or diminishes others freedom. There is always a struggle or shift in power. Why would there be a social contract if my freedom does not disminishes some elses freedom? My power to extert my free will afects someone's freedom.

So you are right to say that people should rejoice in each other sucess, because when people are sharing joys/freedom/power, there is an equilibrium. Because life is about balance. The moment someone else feels threatened or envious about your success, that fragile equilibrium is shattered. I believe inflexible or "evil" people are not able to share, thus why people that are not able to share their power are seens as ruthless.

I think envy has its evolutionary advantages because it is a self defense mechanism so that you don't get run over by others and also makes you to remain more "competitive". Without envy it is hard to get motivation to better yourself. Without envy, you don't have your own free will.

Regarding people leading miserable life, I think they are flawed. Although their envy triggers bitching, yet they choose not to do a damn thing about it. Sad, really.

PS: Dana last time went to Chicago and NY was months ago, why?