Hello,
My name is Lorenzo, and even though I have an academic background in Philosophy, I started this blog because I’ve long nurtured a growing curiosity for online business and personal finance, especially stock trading.
You know, one of those hobbies that starts off as a bit of fun… and slowly becomes a real passion.
Now, some of you might be thinking:
“But what does philosophy have to do with business?”
Or:
“Aren’t those completely different worlds? Don’t the humanities usually frown upon anything involving money and markets?”
Well, that’s partly true. There is a critical stance toward the “business world” within much of contemporary academic philosophy.
But that’s often a superficial perspective.
In fact, the connection between philosophy and economics is very real. Just think about it: the first major economic thinkers were philosophers.
Money, exchange, value, wealth… these have always been central to philosophical inquiry.
To show you how these two worlds are connected, let me share a short story. Maybe you’ve heard it before – it’s one of the most fascinating early accounts from ancient Greek thought.
The Story of Thales: The First Philosopher… and Entrepreneur
Thales of Miletus is often considered the first philosopher in Western history.
A brilliant mind in mathematics, astronomy, and logic. But also, quite surprisingly, a shrewd businessman.
According to Aristotle, his fellow citizens used to mock him:
“What’s the point of all this philosophy if you can’t even make a living?”
Thales – not much of a talker – decided to answer with action.
By studying the stars and calculating seasonal patterns, he realized that the next olive harvest would be especially bountiful.
So, well in advance, he rented out all the olive presses in the region, at a time when no one else was paying attention.
When harvest time came, the demand for those presses skyrocketed – and Thales owned them all.
He made a fortune. Then, he calmly returned to his life of study and simply said:
“I just wanted to prove that we can get rich whenever we want – but that’s not really what interests us.”
That story has always stuck with me.
Now, the goal of this blog isn’t to “do philosophy” in the academic sense.
But I do enjoy observing how every economic decision reflects values, worldviews, and deeper ideas. And I enjoy sharing those reflections – alongside practical tools to navigate today’s world of digital business and personal finance.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. I hope MoneyPlato.com sparks your curiosity, gives you something useful, or at least helps you think a little more – or a little differently.
See you soon,
Lorenzo
Money Plato 