Money as a Measure of Debt: An Analysis of David Graeber's Anthropology

This article offers a thorough analysis of David Graeber's anthropological thought, focusing on the redefinition of money as a formalized measure of debt. The text rejects the traditional myth of barter, instead pointing to the institutional and military origins of monetary systems. The author thoroughly discusses the division between a relational human economy and a calculative commercial economy, showing how the transition between them affected social bonds and power structures. The analysis also encompasses the historical dynamics between systems based on trust and those based on violence and the anonymity of coins. A key element is a critique of the Roman concept of dominion and the search for alternative models of freedom that, instead of individual isolation, rely on a dense network of social obligations and promises. This is crucial reading for understanding contemporary debt mechanisms and their moral foundations.