Frozen desire
by James Buchan · first published 1997
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In Buchan's view, money is civilizations's greatest invention. All manner of things can be called money, and almost every culture has given money an ideal existence. Even so, Buchan points out, "money, which we see and hold every day, is diabolically hard to comprehend in words." It is this very elusiveness that is at the root of money's power to seduce. As Buchan explains, money is "frozen desire" - and because money can fulfill any mortal purpose, for many people the pursuit of money becomes the point of life. In a learned and elegant survey, Buchan illuminates the many different views of
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Great book: "Frozen Desire: The Meaning of Money" by James Buchan (1997) https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Desire-Meaning-JAMES-BUCHAN/dp...
on “Neal Stephenson doesn't seem keen on crypto anymore” ↗>Money is like water or electricity; it's only ability to do work is when it flows. Precisely. "Frozen Desire: The Meaning of Money" by James Buchan (1997) is a superb book that expands on your statement.
on “Can Universal Basic Income Transform Society?” ↗…industrial revolution. I get where you're trying to go, but I just don't think it makes sense. If you're serious in trying to find some sort of fundamental thing behind money, you might read Buchan's "Frozen Desire".
on “Consider Negotiating with Infringers” ↗According to John Buchan, frozen desire. Also see, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮, by Felouz.
on “What is money, anyway?” ↗According to John Buchan, frozen desire. Which was also the title of his book about the subject. Also see, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮, by Felouz.
on “What is money, anyway?” ↗