Lessons on Bitcoin Adoption (from Socrates)

What can Bitcoiners learn from a man who died 2400 years ago?

A lot, as it turns out. Socrates was widely viewed as the wisest man in Athens at the time (~375 BC). Yet when he was asked why he thought that was, his response was a version of “I know nothing, and believe I know nothing. My peers know some things, and believe they know everything”. This hits even harder when you learn that Socrates wrote almost nothing down. He did all of his work by strolling the streets of Athens and having lively discussions.

This is the foundation for the Socratic Method. A philosophy to keep an open mind, think critically, and question everything.

Bitcoiners can learn a few tips from Socrates on how to encourage and attract people to adopt bitcoin.

1. Keep an Open Mind: Socrates believed that by remaining open-minded, one could learn from others and gain useful knowledge. Bitcoiners should also strive to stay open-minded and be aware of new developments in the space. Useful innovation in crypto and fiat payment tech. This will help them better understand the technology and its potential use cases, which can lead to greater understanding and adoption.

2. Question Everything: Socrates taught us to always question what we think we know. No matter how sure you are about something, there may be more to learn. This applies to the technology behind Bitcoin, the government, the core principles of monetary systems, and much more.

3. Think Critically: As Bitcoiners, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and overlook the potential pitfalls. Think hard about how the security model works, Is the general population ready for self-custody, etc. Not all crypto projects are scams, but many are. Be able to tell the difference.

4. Persuasion is Power: Socrates was a master of persuasion and taught us to always find a way to make our point without resorting to force. In the Bitcoin world, this means convincing individuals and governments of the benefits of using digital currency, rather than forcing them to accept it or risk having fun staying poor.

Every one of the above makes a potent recipe for changing minds and converting regular people to Bitcoin.
That last point might be the hardest of all.

It’s easy to retweet something on Twitter or shout that the fiat money printer going BRRR is bad. It’s hard to have lively persuasive discussions with the people you meet in everyday real life that actually can change minds.

Here are a few practical questions to ask your friends. Phrased in the way Socrates might.

• What does a better future look like?

• What IS money?

• Is money better than barter? Why or why not?

• Is Bitcoin the best current solution?

• What are the risks and benefits if Bitcoin reaches mass adoption?

These are great foundational questions that can lead someone to rethink the current system they live in, and begin down a path to find alternative solutions.
Focus on asking better questions and letting your peers come to their own conclusions.

But first, make sure you question yourself.