One perspective worth investigating beyond surface-level reasoning is the somewhat frequent glorification of the dark triad: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Those advocating for behaviors associated with these traits as tools to achieve personal and professional success rarely use this sordid language to describe their philosophy. Naturally, such people embody the manipulative qualities they pedestalize. This approach to life, while seemingly pragmatic in a world driven by power dynamics, ultimately traps its adherents in a prison of their own making. The individual becomes a master manipulator, adept at maneuvering through the treacherous waters of human interactions, yet remains bound by the very forces they seek to control.
The physical world is interpreted by the ego with an emphasis on tangible achievement. It attempts to persuade the mind of the need for psychological trickery in order to get ahead of the competition: other egos—out of control, unhinged, erratic, insane. A genuine practice of meditation and introspection can reveal the ego for the false prophet that it is, allowing one to observe its primary motivations: fear and insecurity. Through meditation, one opens the mind to non-physical dimensions, developing a deeper connection with life and its inherent unity. It is from this greater awareness that self-awareness and inner peace become possible. Such a state of being can influence the physical world in ways that tactical manipulation cannot.
If it is freedom and fulfillment that we seek, then a higher perspective—one that transcends the ego and its insatiable desires—is the only way. Yet, it cannot manifest in those remaining fixated on power plays and dominance. Instead of escaping the confines of mental prisons, their kind become the most skillful inmates, ruling over others with a misguided sense of superiority. This dog-eat-dog mentality, while effective in the short term, always fails to inspire true growth. Consider this reflection by Patrick Bateman at the end of American Psycho: “There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it, I have now surpassed. My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this, there is no catharsis; my punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself. No new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing.”
Real power lies in the pursuit of self-mastery, not in exerting control over others. The inner workings of this world will be unveiled to those who make a practice of observing themselves.
A good man adheres to his values and code irrespective of circumstance. He lives congruently, finding the greatest value in committing to his principles, unfazed by potential ramifications in the immediate. That he is predictable to himself is what makes him good—reasonable, useful, honorable to himself. History, experience, and age-old wisdom teach that the alternative has only ever brought about chaos.