Simon Hertnon’s Theory of Universal Human Needs
Even simpler than Abraham Maslow’s 5-tier Hierarchy of Needs, and Clayton Alderfer’s 3-part ERG Theory, my Theory of Universal Human Needs has just two types of need: survival and betterment.
Whenever the four survival needs are met, humans attempt to satisfy their four betterment needs, which are the needs we must satisfy to improve the quality of our existence. Satisfying the first two produces transitory happiness. Satisfying the last two produces lasting contentment for the individual and contributes directly to the ‘ongoing survival of the species’.
March 17, 2008 at 4:36 am
Like your approach. Would just add that what you advocate actually enhances the survival of the species. The fully self-actualized group is far more adaptive than the mob. The challenges our advanced science enable us reliable to predict — both terrestrial and extra-terrestrially — will require the full competence of a global community. Our survival clearly depends upon moving in the direction you suggest.
The only social theorist who has really dealt with whether the ability to do this lies within our human-natural make-up is Karl Marx. He alone assumed that we are hard-wired to perceive when our mode of society does not adequately enable us to capitalize on our ability to deal with our enviroment effectively. In other words, when we perceive that how we live does not indicate our survival, there’s a pressure within us to get over ourselves.