The late management theorist and philosopher Russell Ackoff once said that human life requires four endeavors: Work/Commerce, Play, Learning and Spirituality. Unfortunately, over the centuries, society has created separate entities or silos for each of these endeavors.
For Work/Commerce, we have created companies, businesses, and laws to govern financial transactions.
For Play, we have created sports, games, parties, social events and hobbies.
For Learning we have created schools of various levels of officialdom.
For spirituality we have created religions, art, theater, and other forms of aesthetic appreciation.
Russell Ackoff went on to say that an ultimate existence and quality of life is when you can integrate all four of those categories in everything you do. When you can't tell the difference amongst the four, then you are truly living a quality life.
Oddly, and excitingly, I have begun noticing that Bitcoin is becoming the integrating factor for my life.
For Work/Commerce, I am already adapting Bitcoin in my regular transactions. And its promise of personal freedom for all humans (not just 1st world countries) will further decentralize and dis-aggregate businesses. New businesses will flourish. Borders and boundaries will fade.
For Play, Bitcoin is providing me a new social experience. I've been going to Bitcoin meetups, meeting new people, and having fun with these new friends and this new technology. Sure it is geeky, but I'm having a new kind of fun.
For Learning, Bitcoin has been an amazing intellectual journey. Since engaging in Bitcoin, I've taken courses in cryptography, crypto-currencies, learned a new programming language, and I'm studying the protocol with the new-found time away from watching mindless television.
For Spirituality, all I can say is that the aesthetic beauty of the Bitcoin protocol design is breathtaking. And for the personal freedom that it represents for our future, Bitcoin is inspiring.
For me, Bitcoin has become the integrative factor that is sparking my imagination, and I am hopeful that I can contribute to its success in some way. If Ackoff had lived to see Bitcoin, I'd like to think that he wold have seen the integrative nature of it for improving human life.