The Opposite of Envy

[Vegepygmy]

By the way, the History Channel had a series on the 7 Deadly Sins not too long ago, and spent a full hour on each one. It was very enlightening, and the one on Envy would be particularly illuminating for those discussing it here. I highly recommend it, if you can find it anywhere.

Seven Deadly Sins - History.com

 

[Dzyu]

I just looked it up on dictionary.com:

Envy and jealousy are very close in meaning. Envy denotes a longing to possess something awarded to or achieved by another: to feel envy when a friend inherits a fortune. Jealousy, on the other hand, denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one more rightfully deserves: to feel jealousy when a coworker receives a promotion.

 

[Morrus]

I just looked it up on dictionary.com:

Never a good way to frame a semantic debate, let alone a philosophical one! Dictionary.com has about as much authority as my dog, who says "Woof. Where's my treat?"

I'm not sure that religio-philosophy as a sphere of interest and... err.... dictionary.com.... have much intersection. Still, mildly better than Wikipedia, I guess!

 

[Allenchan]

I agree with Mudita being the opposite of Envy, but also following the difference between internal/external, in a D&D game I think Altruism would be a better opposite towards Envy. It is a more externalized thing that requires action, rather than merely positive thought.

 

[LightPhoenix]

No. Greed just means you want "more", not "what someone else has". If everyone had the same stuff, an envious person would be content (because nobody has something he hasn't got), but the greedy person would want more stuff.

The opposite of greed would be contentedness with having nothing. I'm sure there's a word for that, but it escapes me right now!

Ugh, I had a decent reply but it got lost. I will sum up.

First, I completely agree with your analysis of envy/generosity.

Second, I would say that greed transcends simple materialism. It implies excessive want, in which case the opposite would be giving. Personally, I would quantify it as sacrifice, giving beyond one's means. This also provides a nice mirror in that envy/greed are similar but different, as are generosity/sacrifce.

 

[delericho]

Dictionary.com has about as much authority as my dog, who says "Woof. Where's my treat?"

You have a talking dog? I'm jealous. Or envious. Or something.

 

[Pbartender]

So please jump in and share your thoughts!

My thought...

Why must the seven virtues be opposites of the seven sins?

 

[blargney the second]

My thought...

Why must the seven virtues be opposites of the seven sins?

Because there is a 1 on the other side of that 20.
-blarg

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Rel]

You have a talking dog? I'm jealous. Or envious. Or something.

You don't think they'd let a dog who couldn't talk be the Attorney General of London, do you?