Dinosaur Derivatives and Other Trades

Introduction

“Money speaks sense in a language all nations understand.”

—Aphra Behn (1640–1689)

“Let us all be happy, and live within our means, even if we have to borrow the money to do it with.”

—Artemus Ward (1834–1867)

“Crito, we owe a cock to Aesculapius; please pay it and don't let it pass.”

—Socrates' last words (c. 470 BCE–c. 399 BCE)

It is fair to say that finance is a serious matter, whereas riddles are often frivolous. Money, on the other hand, can be very superficial, whereas philosophical puzzles are profound.

Finance is viewed as a dry subject, engaged in by men and women in dark suits who toil away for innumerable hours in large, box-like buildings. What is finance, after all? It's the counting of numbers, isn't it? Or the practical investing of money, providing loans and capital and settling of accounts to ensure proper payments of due bills. Finance, if seen this way, is essentially for the straight shooters. It's a serious occupation reserved for those whose minds are embedded in the settlement of everyday, practical affairs.

It would seem utterly contradictory then, to claim that every aspect of finance involves some philosophical puzzle. How could a subject as “dry” as finance be related to philosophical matters? Philosophy reminds us of the strangest things in life, the paradoxical. Don't philosophers deal with moral purpose? They dwell on those deep contradictions and inconsistencies in humanity that seem inexplicable. Philosophical riddles take us to ...