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Related Concept Videos

Maslow's Theory of Basic Human Needs01:28

Maslow's Theory of Basic Human Needs

Maslow's hierarchy is described with the help of a pyramidal shape. The most fundamental needs, physiological needs, are at the bottom of the pyramid.
Physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, sex, physical comfort, and survival are at the bottom of the pyramid. These are the components that are necessary to sustain life. Once the first level of needs has been met, the second level arises.
Safety needs include stability and predictability. Protection and freedom from danger are all a part of...
Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory01:27

Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory

Abraham Maslow's theory of motivation, introduced in 1943, is widely known as the "Hierarchy of Needs." This theory posits that human needs are arranged in a hierarchical structure, starting with basic survival needs and progressing toward more complex psychological and self-fulfillment desires. The hierarchy is typically a pyramid, and the lower needs must be satisfied to reach the next level.
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Primary Motives: Hunger and Thirst01:25

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Compounds Essential to Human Function01:25

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Abraham Maslow, a prominent figure in humanistic psychology, developed a theory centered on self-actualization, which he placed at the top of his hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, self-actualization represents achieving one's full potential and is a rare accomplishment attained by approximately 2% of the population. Maslow identified notable historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Mahatma Gandhi, Helen Keller, and Martin Luther King Jr. as examples of self-actualized individuals.

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A Double Humanized BLT-mice Model Featuring a Stable Human-Like Gut Microbiome and Human Immune System
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Published on: August 30, 2019

Absolute biological needs.

Stephen McLeod

    Bioethics
    |April 17, 2013
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    This study argues for the existence of absolute biological needs, independent of personal goals. These needs are objective, universal across species, and foundational to agency, not derived from it.

    Keywords:
    absolute needsbiological needsinstrumental needsneedsnormativitypersonal agentsvalue

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    Area of Science:

    • Philosophy of Biology
    • Metaphysics
    • Philosophy of Mind

    Background:

    • The concept of 'need' is debated, with some arguing only instrumental needs exist.
    • Philosophers like Wiggins and Thomson have defended absolute needs based on linguistic senses of 'need'.
    • This work explores absolute needs from a biological, rather than purely linguistic, perspective.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To establish the existence and nature of absolute biological needs.
    • To differentiate absolute biological needs from instrumental needs.
    • To analyze the relationship between absolute needs and the concept of 'normative'.

    Main Methods:

    • Philosophical argumentation and conceptual analysis.
    • Examination of the objectivity and universality of biological needs.
    • Distinction between different senses of the term 'normative'.

    Main Results:

    • Absolute biological needs exist and are objective, not mind-dependent.
    • The phenomenon of needing is universal across the plant and animal kingdoms.
    • Biological needs are argued to be prior to, and not wholly dependent on, personal agency.

    Conclusions:

    • Absolute biological needs are distinct from instrumental needs and are not inherently value-dependent in the primary philosophical senses.
    • Survival needs may be considered 'normative' in a specific, non-value-dependent sense.
    • The concept of absolute need provides a foundation for understanding biological requirements independent of agent goals.