A THIN LINE BETWEEN PRESENCE AND NON-EXISTENCE: THE NEED
Need is when a state of absence creates discomfort in the person and when this absence is satisfied, a positive affect occurs.
From this point of view, a number of absences and gaps are constantly forming in us and these cause us so much discomfort that we are trying to eliminate this absence in some way. Again, we are such a being that when we close one, it is unlikely that the other will not be born immediately. Not even singularly, but many needs can arise at the same time. This means multiplied discomfort. As you can see, although we look complete from the outside, we are a colanderous being on the inside, riddled with holes. Our whole lives are spent trying not to patch our holes, which burst again from various places every time we patch them.
- But is it the constant pursuit of needs unconsciously, what exactly is it that will make us happy?
What underlies human happiness?
What is true happiness, can you define it?
So, is it something different from pleasure and enjoyment? How are they related to each other?
But do you think this discomfort is a bad thing?
Good questions, right?
So let’s take a closer look at 🙌🏼 these issues in the following sections.
✅ In order to understand the origin of needs, let’s start by examining a theory that expresses needs in 5 main categories and that comes to mind when it comes to need, which social scientists are very familiar with. The aim here is to prepare the ground for the following theories, to approach them from a different direction and to contribute to the intellectual process.
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
To briefly mention Maslow, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory of human psychology that was put forward in a study published in 1943 by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow and later developed. It expresses the basic needs underlying human motivation in a hierarchical manner in 5 basic categories. He argues that from the bottom to the top, people must satisfy their needs in the current floor in order to go up to each upper step.
When we look at it here, we are actually faced with a deep discomfort and vigilance without the first 3 levels. Because these are the most vital situations.
- Physiological needs: These are the needs that express that the person cannot exist without realizing the conditions such as breathing, eating, water, excretion, sexuality, sleep, healthy metabolism, that is, they are primary needs. Others, i.e. secondary needs, can be grasped as can be seen from the figure. For more information, you can click on the image. If we bring a perspective to those who are outside this knowledge.
- Security: If you feel like you’re not safe, your survival instincts will be so overwhelming that all your current plans will be pushed into the corner and your mind will only deal with that problem. In this case, it will definitely be very difficult to think about or perform an efficient activity.
- Love/Belonging: When we look at it, the origin of this actually goes back to our ancient ancestors. In the early ages, it was vital to live together, people hunted together and faced endless wild animals, diseases and all kinds of dangers. In such an environment, exile from the community meant being left to die. Living in such a serious environment for a long time must be firmly engraved in our genetics, and when we are alone for a long time, we fall into a deep distraction and depression.
When a person is fed, secure, and able to achieve success in their relationships, they will now be able to devote mental & physical energy and time to activities that are more productive and rational. Otherwise, it seems unlikely that the person will be able to do a value-added job or perform an activity related to his essence as a human being. Of course, in today’s economic order, in order to meet the physiological and security needs, and even the need for love, it is necessary to create an economy by solving some of the problems of other people. And this refers to production. A person cannot create an economy without solving someone else’s problem, and when he cannot create it, he cannot satisfy his needs. (We will discuss the theory of production and problems in the next section). It may seem strange that this is the case, even for love and relationships. However, if we define human beings as a being who runs away from discomforts as much as possible and runs to pleasure, we need to accept that relationships will be damaged due to the discomforts that will arise from needs that cannot be met economically in terms of love and relationships, and that relationships that are not met mutually in this way cannot be sustainable.
Let us now examine the needs that we, as human beings, are able to satisfy mostly as a result of overcoming difficult activities:
- Esteem: It is our need that expresses how much we are personally accepted by others. This is again related to the “concept of power”. Our influence over our environment determines the extent to which our need for dignity is satisfied. Thus, one’s level of influence is the result of the skills and resources one has realized and acquired. These skills and resources are; It can be clustered on many factors such as having an intellectual asset and a wide communication network, being physically and financially strong. In animals, this is mostly centered around features such as physical strength and attractiveness, which are related to bodily features.
- Self-Actualization: We are in the main need that makes human beings human in terms of occurring as a result of consciousness. Of course, in order for a person to reach this stage, he must first reach this stage by satisfying and exceeding other stages, that is, his animality. A person who cannot overcome his animality cannot reach the level of humanity. At this stage, thanks to various experiences, the person has increased his personal and environmental awareness and developed a perspective and vision of himself and his environment. Thus, at this stage, every action that serves its vision and realizes its potential will serve to realize itself.
Now that we are aware of the concept of need and basic needs, we can move on to the main subject of all our struggles. Our ever-changing needs bring with them many problems. We’ve defined the need, so what’s the problem? There is a problem, there is no problem, a problem, problem, problem. Well, what is the essence of this concept, with which we are so involved in the dynamics of life, and where does it extend? How does it relate to our ultimate happiness? Are the problems good or bad?
Let’s take a closer look at this concept together!
>>>Continue: (PART 3) – THE PROBLEM THEORY
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