Two Questions on the Ontology of Money

An Imaginary Dialogue between John Rogers Searle and Maurizio Ferraris

Abstract

This dialogue reflects and synthesized the content of a recent publication (Einaudi, 2018) entitled Il denaro e i suoi inganni (by John R. Searle and Maurizio Ferraris, ed. by Angela Condello). The two philosophers present their perspectives on the ontology of money, which are different and yet interestingly intertwined. On the one hand, Searle returns on the crucial function of intentionality in the construction of social reality: it is intentionality that gives value to banknotes. On the other hand, Ferraris responds with his theory of documentality, that today – with bitcoins and blockchains – must be defined as “documediality”. Money emerges as the paradigmatic social object, which we should observe as a meaningful symbol of contemporary societies.