In this book, James P. Carse distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games are instrumental activities with clear rules, boundaries, and winners, such as sports, politics, and wars. Infinite games, on the other hand, are authentic interactions that aim to continue the play, changing rules and boundaries as needed. Carse explores how these concepts apply to various aspects of life, including culture, religion, sexuality, and self-discovery. He argues that finite games offer wealth, status, and power, while infinite games provide something more subtle and grander, such as true freedom and endless possibility. The book offers insights into how approaching life as either a finite or infinite game affects one's choices, satisfaction, and success[2][4][5].
In this 1981 philosophical treatise, Jean Baudrillard explores the relationships between reality, symbols, and society. He introduces the concept of simulacra, which are copies without an original, and discusses how these simulacra and simulations have replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs. Baudrillard argues that current society is saturated with these constructs, leading to a phenomenon he calls the 'precession of simulacra,' where the simulated copy supersedes the original object and meaning becomes infinitely mutable.
In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].
Meltem Demirors is the Chief Strategy Officer of CoinShares, a digital asset investment firm that manages $4B. Meltem is also known as the vibes sorceress, curator of vibes, and the queen of crypto. She’s been in the space for more than eight years and has seen the ebbs and flows of not only the markets, but the people that make up the space.
As a whole, the people that make up the space are part of the entire crypto cult. Whether you’re team Bitcoin or Ethereum, or whichever other coins, protocols, DAOs, people, etc. you support—you’re part of the cult. We don’t mean the negative connotation of the word cult, anon. Relax. Cults are everywhere.
Over the years, the online magic of crypto has bled into the IRL side of the space. How will this trend impact the future of the space? Why are cults everywhere? What advice does Meltem have for new crypto participants? Answers to these questions and so much more in the episode.
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------ Topics Covered:
0:00 Intro 5:02 Meltdem’s Trajectory into Crypto 13:08 When Crypto Became Real 20:17 The Power of Removing Your Ego 27:50 Why Meltdem was Wrong About Ethereum 34:24 Cults Are Everywhere 46:00 Cults vs. Communities 48:00 Meaning & Social Crypto Culture 52:00 Inter-generational product-market fit 54:50 Developing Your Own Perspective 1:05:53 How Social Crypto Has Changed 1:20:15 Meltem’s Advice For People New to the Space 1:22:44 What Meltem’s Optimistic About
------ Resources:
Meltem Demirors https://twitter.com/Melt_Dem
CoinShares https://coinshares.com/
Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22613.Simulacra_and_Simulation
The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2761.The_Denial_of_Death
Finite and Infinite Games Book by James Carse https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/189989.Finite_and_Infinite_Games
----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/p/bankless-disclosures
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