The Saylor Series: A Deep Dive into Money, Energy, and Human Civilisation

This comprehensive series, spanning 17 episodes and approximately 25 hours of content, delves into the fundamental question: "What is money?"

Through their engaging discussions, Saylor and Breedlove take listeners on an intellectual journey from the Stone Age to the Digital Age, examining the role of energy and technology in shaping human progress.

The Genesis of the Series

The Saylor Series began as a simple conversation about money but quickly evolved into a far-reaching exploration of human history, economics, and technological advancement.

Michael Saylor, known for his entrepreneurial success and advocacy for Bitcoin, joined Robert Breedlove, host of the "What is Money Show," for what was initially planned as a brief discussion. However, the depth and breadth of their conversation led to an extensive series that has captivated audiences worldwide.

A Spontaneous Intellectual Journey

What makes the Saylor Series particularly remarkable is its spontaneous nature. Saylor reveals that the entire series was based on an outline he quickly drafted in the first hour of their conversation.

This extemporaneous approach led to a rich, unscripted dialogue that covers a vast array of interconnected topics, demonstrating the complexity and importance of understanding money in the context of human civilisation.

Key Themes and Insights

Money as Energy

One of the central themes of the Saylor Series is the concept of money as a form of energy. Saylor posits that money is the highest form of energy that humans can channel, and a monetary system is essentially an energy system. This perspective frames the discussion of money not just in economic terms, but as a fundamental force driving human progress and civilisation.

The Evolution of Energy Technologies

The series traces the development of human civilisation through the lens of energy technologies. From the mastery of fire in the Stone Age to the development of missiles and hydraulics, Saylor and Breedlove examine how advancements in energy manipulation have shaped human societies and determined which civilisations thrive.

The Importance of Effective Energy Channelling

A key insight from the series is summed up in Saylor's statement: "The civilisation that channels energy most effectively wins." This principle is applied not only to physical energy but also to the abstract energy represented by money and economic systems.

From Stone Age to Digital Age

Ancient Energy Technologies

The Saylor Series begins by exploring the earliest forms of energy manipulation that set humans apart from other species. The discovery and mastery of fire, for instance, is presented as a crucial turning point that allowed humans to predigest food, directing more energy towards brain development.

The Impact of Projectile Weapons

The development of missiles, such as bows and arrows, is discussed as another pivotal advancement. These weapons allowed humans to convert potential energy into kinetic energy, giving them a significant advantage over other predators and competing tribes.

The Rise of Hydraulics

Water management and hydraulics are presented as further examples of humans learning to channel gravitational energy effectively, leading to agricultural advancements and the rise of complex civilisations.

Bitcoin: An Engineered Monetary System

The First Appropriately Engineered Money

A significant portion of the Saylor Series is dedicated to discussing Bitcoin as the first truly engineered monetary system in human history. Saylor and Breedlove explore how Bitcoin's design principles align with the laws of thermodynamics and other natural laws, making it a more robust and stable form of money than its predecessors.

Proof-of-Work and Natural Virtues

The series delves into how Bitcoin's proof-of-work mining system subjects it to the virtues of nature, creating a base-layer protocol upon which a civilisation can be built. This is contrasted with politicised monetary systems that attempt to circumvent natural laws, often leading to instability and collapse.

The Dangers of Currency Debasement

Energy Leakage in Monetary Systems

Saylor introduces the concept of currency debasement as a form of energy leakage from an economic system. He argues that at a 7% debasement rate, half of the energy leaks from the system every ten years, leading to significant economic inefficiencies and potential societal collapse.

Historical Examples of Monetary Collapse

The series examines historical instances where currency debasement led to the downfall of civilisations, drawing parallels to modern monetary policies and their potential long-term consequences.

Engineering Principles in Economics

The Need for Stability

A recurring theme in the Saylor Series is the importance of stability in complex systems. Saylor draws comparisons between engineering disciplines and economics, arguing that economists often fail to consider the laws of thermodynamics when designing monetary systems.

The Impossibility of Cheating Nature

The series emphasises that, just as in physical systems, monetary systems cannot cheat the laws of nature. This principle is used to critique current fiat monetary systems and to advocate for a return to money that is grounded in natural laws and scarcity.

The Potential of Global, Incorruptible Money

Ayn Rand's Vision

The Saylor Series touches on Ayn Rand's mission to separate the economy from the state, exploring how a global, incorruptible form of money like Bitcoin might achieve this goal.

Economic Efficiency and Innovation

Saylor and Breedlove discuss the potential benefits of a monetary system that minimises energy leakage, including increased economic efficiency, accelerated innovation, and more equitable wealth distribution.

Practical Applications and Future Outlook

Escaping the "Fiat Zoo"

The series concludes with discussions on how individuals and societies might transition away from flawed monetary systems, which Saylor colourfully refers to as the "fiat zoo."

The Role of Bitcoin in Future Civilisations

Saylor and Breedlove speculate on how Bitcoin and similar technologies might shape the future of human civilisation, potentially ushering in a new era of economic and social organisation.

Conclusion: A Comprehensive Exploration of Money and Civilisation

The Saylor Series stands as a monumental work in the exploration of money, energy, and human progress. By tracing the development of energy technologies and monetary systems from the Stone Age to the present day, Saylor and Breedlove provide a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing modern civilisation.

The series' central thesis—that money is a form of energy and that the most successful civilisations are those that channel energy most effectively—offers a compelling framework for understanding historical developments and current economic challenges. Moreover, it presents Bitcoin as a potential solution to many of the problems inherent in current monetary systems, framing it as an appropriately engineered technology aligned with natural laws.

For anyone interested in economics, technology, or the broader sweep of human history, the Saylor Series offers a wealth of insights and thought-provoking ideas. Its comprehensive approach, combining anthropology, economics, physics, and philosophy, provides a holistic view of money's role in human civilisation and offers a vision for a more stable and prosperous future.