Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us

Imagine the vibrant underwater world of the Galapagos Islands, where a sea turtle patiently waits as small wrasse fish clean its shell. This ancient dance of mutual benefit is more than a charming scene; it is a window into the biological roots of exchange. Exchange, in its purest form, is a fundamental principle woven into the fabric of life itself. From single-celled organisms that merged to form complex life to the intricate relationships between plants and pollinators, cooperation has been key to survival. These partnerships are not mere accidents but evolutionary necessities. The exchange of energy—whether through food, shelter, or protection—serves as the currency of nature, flowing continuously to sustain life.

Our ancestors, long before the dawn of Homo sapiens, crafted hand axes not only as tools but as tangible expressions of value and cooperation. These axes, some over a million years old, represent an early form of symbolic thinking, a leap from mere survival to social interaction. The ability to externalize thought and create symbols laid the groundwork for what would eventually become money. This capacity for symbolic thought is evident in the earliest cave paintings, where humans captured their world in vivid imagery, bridging the gap between mind and matter.

Cooperation, as demonstrated by nature and early humans, is evolutionarily advantageous. In social species, working together enhances the chances of survival for individuals and their kin. The division of labor, specialization, and reciprocal exchange form the pillars of human society. This biological imperative to cooperate and exchange is the foundation upon which money was built. As we move from the natural world to the human realm, we begin to see how these ancient forces shape our economic interactions today.

Having glimpsed the biological origins of exchange, we now turn inward to the human mind, exploring how our brains process money and make financial decisions. This journey will reveal the hidden forces that guide our choices, often beyond our conscious awareness.