Blockchain Technology and the Decentralized Autonomous Organization - A Spinozian Interpretation

We investigate blockchain technology and its principal applications, through the lens of Spinozism. Predicted to become a disruptive technology that would transform economic structures, blockchain technology has not yet lived up to its societal expectations. Its philosophical dimension remains under-researched to date. At a closer glance, smart contracts and the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) rehabilitates the notions of the multitude, conatus, sad passions, and freedom. The paper starts by highlighting the salient features of blockchain technology, smart contracts, and the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). Secondly, the emerging concepts discussed in the first part are investigated through the lens of Spinozianism with an emphasis on the DAO. Our main finding is that Spinoza’s philosophy sheds unexpected light on a wide range of archetypical socio-political issues