from a recent convo: mathematically, thinking about optimization as finding maxima (up = good) is equivalent to flipping the sign and finding minima (down = good), but mythically the two are wildly different as metaphors. ascending towards heaven vs. descending to the underworld

"up = good" implies that goodness requires effort, involves fighting against gravity, that the default is to slouch towards sin and depravity
"down = good" implies that goodness is the natural order of things, like water flowing, that the practice is to remove obstructions

ayyy

down towards the earth