Joy

Joy

Geometrically, joy requires four dimensions:

• $\valence > 0$ (positive gradient on viability manifold)
• $\intinfo$ high (unified, coherent experience)
• $\effrank$ high (many degrees of freedom active—expansiveness)
• $\mathcal{SM}$ low (self recedes; no need to defend)

Arousal varies (joy can be calm or excited). Counterfactual weight is incidental.

The cause-effect structure has the shape of “abundance”—multiple paths to good outcomes, redundancy, slack in the system. Many distinctions active simultaneously ($\effrank$ high), tightly coupled ($\intinfo$ high), but the self is light because the world is cooperating ($\mathcal{SM}$ low). This is why joy expands: the geometry literally has more active dimensions.