|
[Return to Home Page]
(February 1999) [Printed in "Reality Module No.8" under the title "Democratic
Humanism - What Are Genuine Human Needs?"]
Democratic Humanism (1) -
What Are Genuine Human
Needs?
Introduction
Level 1. Physiological Needs
Level 2. Safety Needs / Security
Level 3. Belongingness = Love Needs
Level 4. Self-Esteem
Level 5. Self-Actualization Needs
Higher Levels?
Conclusion
Reference
Related Works
Feedback and Discussions
"One of the lessons of the latter half of the 20th century is that
Communism doesn't work - it leads to inefficiency, stifles individual
innovation, devalues human beings to the status of machines, causes
environmental degradation, and leads to most of the people being pretty unhappy
for most of the time.
"I'm predicting that by early in the 21st century (by 2025 at the latest)
people will come to realise that laissez-faire Capitalism doesn't work
either - it leads to social inequality, causes exploitation, devalues human
beings to the status of consumers, causes environmental degradation, is
inherently unstable, and leads to most of the people being pretty unhappy for
most of the time.
"I'm expecting a new political system, one which is based on genuine human
needs and desires, to come into being. It will be a genuine social revolution
and I have no doubt it'll be fought against by old style monetarists every
angstrom of the way, and will only come into place after a long struggle and a
lot of soul-searching.
I don't know what it'll be called - possibly something like Democratic
Humanism."
From "Future Imperfect. Part 2" in Reality
Module #3. (April 1998).
I'm basing my hierarchy of human needs on the model proposed by Abraham
Maslow in 1962-63 and described in the book "Principles of Psychology."
(1) (I've got to start with something - and I can always change the model later
on if it proves inadequate).
I'll be tackling the secular trinity of Politics, Economics and
Sociology.
This will be a short essay.
[Top of Page]
These are the most basic needs. The needs for food, water, fresh air,
etc.
With most of the world's population malnourished or starving, with supplies
of potable water under threat in parts of Asia and Africa, with the pollution of
water, air and soil - we can say that even these most fundamental human needs
are not being properly met in most parts of the world.
This indicates major problems with the world's economic practices.
Of course solutions are being implemented to deal with many of these
problems, but I suspect we are not working hard enough to solve them. We need to
find and put into practice new and radical ideas.
The first problem Economic Humanism will have to look at will be the
problem of poverty.
[Top of Page]
These are the needs of human beings for shelter (a place of their own), and
security.
Once more this is economics based. Even in rich western countries like
Australia, we have too many homeless people (few of them homeless by choice),
and the cost of accommodation in cities is getting higher and higher. Many low-
income people are finding it increasingly hard to cope with rental costs (I know
I am), and affordable public housing is becoming more and more scarce. It is not
an ideal situation when even fundamentals like housing are being pushed out of
the economic reach of the disadvantaged.
Security has many dimensions. It can mean safety from attack and burglary. (A
law-and-order problem, as well as a social and political problem.)
It can mean economic security - both a financial safety-net if you become
unemployed, or the increasingly rare commodity of a permanent job.
Economic security has become rare in this age of economic restructuring. No
one has a 'job-for-life' and we have to constantly reinvent ourselves in order
to pursue new career options.
Medical care is also a source of insecurity. ("How long will I have to wait
for treatment? Is this strange doctor competent? Can I afford the bills?")
Governments have a role here.
Lastly it can mean a freedom from stress: a modern malady brought about,
perhaps, by our imperfect understanding of the changes happening around us, and
the economic pressure to "perform."
Political policies and programs can ease the insecurity of the economically
disadvantaged. Changes in employment practices and policies can ease the stress
caused by current job pressures. We must learn as a society that it is okay to
relax - economic 'progress' isn't everything.
[Top of Page]
This is the next level: family ties, sense of community, sense of a common
purpose.
These are not directly politically related. All our politicians can do is
fund projects to foster 'community spirit' whatever that may be, and fund
counselling for those economically-disadvantaged persons who feel unable to
relate to others or who feel alienated from society. (This is
psychotherapy.)
These are projects to help us live together more harmoniously as a
society.
[I'm not sure at what level our intrinsic needs for Justice and fair
play fits in. Certainly there should be affordable 'justice for all.']
[Top of Page]
Citizens need to feel that they have value, that they are not just cogs in a
machine.
This is where the common capitalist simplification of citizens to consumers
or
customers is so debilitating. (We get the unconscious message that our money is
more important than we are. Economic rationalism has a lot to answer for).
The democratic part of Democratic Humanism comes into play
here. Citizens debate and make decisions about issues that affect them all.
Politics is far too important to be left in the hands of politicians.
[Top of Page]
This describes the need most of us have to develop to our full-potential in
all
the areas that are important to us.
The most direct link here is with Education. Education is the most
visible social means by which people attempt to develop their skills and improve
their opportunities, and investigate deeply the matters which really
interest/stimulate them.
An issue here is that with the increasing emphasis on user-pays in Australian
education - many people of limited means will be denied the opportunities that
education provides.
(Sure the government will fund educational programs for the disadvantaged but
they will be courses the government thinks you should do - not what you
might want to do!)
There are many issues here.
[Top of Page]
Maslow doesn't mention any of these. I'd say we might have a need to feel
that
our life has meaning/relevance, and maybe that we have a place in history.
Politics, Economics, and Sociology have nothing to say here. They are all too
trivial.
[Top of Page]
This introduction gives me a range of areas to explore in future essays.
(1).Price, Richard H. et al. Principles of psychology. New York, NY :
CBS College Publishing, 1982. (pp.382-383) [ISBN 0-03-048411-1]
[Top of Page]
Related Works
- Origins of these ideas -
Future
Imperfect - Part 1 - Gathering the Threads (February 1998)
Future Imperfect - Part 2 - Weaving the Tapestry (April
1998)
- In This Series -
Democratic Humanism (1) - What Are Genuine Human Needs?
(February 1999)
Democratic Humanism (2) (April 1999)
Democratic Humanism (3) - Know Your Dragon (June 1999)
Democratic Humanism (4) - Maslow Meets the Economic
Rationalists (August 2000)
Democratic Humanism (5) - Fostering Change From Within (June 2001)
Democratic Humanism (6) - The Getting of Wisdom (December 2001)
[Top of Page]
[Return to Home Page]
Copyright © 1999 by Michael F. Green. All
rights reserved.
Email.
Last Updated: 28 August 2003
|