Are We Getting Weaker? Hard Money, Harder Virtues
From Exploring Prosperity- Challenging Pessimism in the US by Bob Dewey
March 27, 2026 · 1h 7m
About this episode
The episode explores the deeper question of what drives long-term human progress through a conversation about hard money, culture, and human nature.
Are we actually progressing—or quietly getting weaker?In this conversation, I sit down with Aleks Svetski, author of The Bushido of Bitcoin, to explore a deeper question that sits beneath economics, technology, and politics: what actually drives long-term human progress?Many believe that fixing money—through systems like Bitcoin—can restore discipline, align incentives, and solve structural problems in society. But as Aleks argues, that’s only part of the story. Human nature, culture, and values ultimately determine whether societies rise or fall.We discuss:- Why hard money is necessary—but not sufficient- The role of character, virtue, and “nobility” in shaping civilization- Whether democracy strengthens or weakens societies over time- How AI and technology may widen the gap between disciplined and undisciplined people- Why pain and suffering may be essential to growth and progressThis is a conversation about incentives, power, culture, and the uncomfortable possibility that no system alone can fix what is fundamentally human.This episode will challenge how you think about progress.Subscribe for long-form conversations on markets, macro, technology, Bitcoin, and the future of…
People in this episode
Host: Bob Dewey
Guest: Aleks Svetski
Topics covered
- human progress
- economics
- technology
- culture
- values
- Bitcoin
- society
Keywords
- hard money
- Bitcoin
- human nature
- progress
- culture
- democracy
- AI
- incentives
Sponsors
Truflation, Foundation
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Bushido of Bitcoin
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