ABSTRACT
Money affects the life of most human beings, either by its presence or its absence. Money makes us both master and slave. In the contemporary market, money is essential to enable exchange of goods. Reiss-Schimmel summarises the possible sociological origins of money. The alchemists of the Middle Ages spent whole lifetimes in searching for the philosophers' stone, which was imagined as the chemical that would turn base metals into gold. Pathology or suffering begins when the relationship to money is troublesome to the individual or interferes with human relationships. Prenuptial agreements are often required in order to ensure a fair distribution of wealth if a relationship breaks down. These enforce the giving and the payment of debts but generosity requires trust and an openness which not everyone has had the opportunity to develop. The trajectory of money in society ensures that people are dealing with circularity.
