A Philosophical Case for Bitcoin with Bradley Rettler - WBD656
The Peter McCormack Show
Peter McCormack
4.7 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 10 May 2023
⏱️ 101 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Bradley Rettler is an Associate Professor of Philosophy, and a member of the Resistance Money, a philosophy research collective focused on Bitcoin. In this interview, we discuss the potential ethical implications of AI, philosophical reflections on money creation and governance, the importance of financial literacy, and combating misinformation about Bitcoin.
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One of the important groups to emerge within the Bitcoin community over the past few years has been the philosophers studying Bitcoin, led by members of the Resistance Money collective: Andrew Bailey, Bradley Rettle and Craig Warmke (with Troy Cross as an honorary member). They have added academic weight to the consideration of the importance of Bitcoin in the context of fundamental questions regarding money's role in society.
The Resistance Money collective has been examining Bitcoin from various angles. In the episode, Bradley discusses moral dilemmas posed by a material global transition to this new form of money: the transfer of wealth, energy consumption impacts, the acceptance of privacy for bad and good, and usage by enemies. In addition, considerations about the benefits provided by fiat currency that could be lost: e.g. is there a useful societal function provided by money printing?
But this is where philosophical tools are extremely useful. In a previous episode, Craig Warmke explained the usefulness of the 'veil of ignorance' thought experiment, where one assumes they have no knowledge of what position in society they would have, and, from this position, they then determine what monetary system would best serve society for the great good. It is this perspective that is used to establish the Resistence Money thesis on Bitcoin.
In a scenario where you could fall into any position in society, it would obviously be better that Bitcoin existed. It is the philosophical equivalent of checking your privilege. Whilst Bitcoin's potential impact on society is complex and uneven, it is far easier to understand how Bitcoin acts to mitigate global inequality and inequity when assuming a scenario where you need it and it doesn't exist.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you had to step behind the veil of ignorance and forget who you are in the world, |
| 0:07.0 | would you want to step back into a world that had Bitcoin or that didn't have Bitcoin. |
| 0:13.3 | And for most people in the world, |
| 0:15.5 | it's good for them that Bitcoin exists. |
| 0:18.2 | Hello there, how are you all? |
| 0:20.1 | I'm pretty chilled now. |
| 0:21.1 | Had a nice relaxing time here in Miami. It's my first week off in a year. |
| 0:25.3 | Had a chance to relax. Got a big year ahead. Got another football season. Loads of |
| 0:29.1 | podcasts to make loads of films. Also got this conference coming up. Anyway, welcome to the What |
| 0:33.9 | Bitcoin did podcast which is brought to you by IRS Energy, the largest |
| 0:37.5 | NASDAD listed Bitcoin Miner using 100% renewable energy. I'm your host |
| 0:42.0 | Peter McCormack and today we have |
| 0:43.7 | Bradley Retler on the show to complete the philosopher trio of Andrew Bailey, Craig |
| 0:48.0 | Womke and now Mr Bradley Retler. Now Bradley is an associate professor at the University of Wyoming and as you lot |
| 0:54.8 | know these philosophical conversations some of my absolute favorites so we get |
| 0:58.8 | into all sorts of stuff on the show from money and Bitcoin to how many grains of rice make a heap and whether or not Danny is bored, which he is by the way. |
| 1:06.0 | So I hope you enjoy this one. If you've got any questions about this you can hit me up. |
| 1:10.0 | It's hello what Bitcoin did.com. Also we have our live event with Lynn Orden, Jess Snyder, Harry |
| 1:14.4 | Sullick and Troy Crossing one week today. There aren't many tickets left so you want to check it out. |
| 1:18.8 | Head over to what Bitcoin did.com and click on WBD live. |
| 1:22.0 | Bradley Rattlers in town |
| 1:24.0 | hey do man pretty good |
... |
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