Human Needs Essay Example

Needs are essentials for humans to continue living, including things such as, basic clothing, shelter, warmth, food, water, and air. The line between a need and a want is certainly blurry, and usually is skewed depending on the culture, time period, and location. The needs of a working class man will be different to the needs of a rich woman, so on, and so forth. 

The definition of a need, as stated above, is something that one needs to survive, not something that eases said survival, needs merely allow for your continued existence on earth. Some argue that things such as phones, cars, and the internet are needed, and this can certainly be a dicey subject, considering the time period, and internet culture. However, the internet is not needed to keep your body moving, nor is a car or a phone. Most of these items are “Convenience needs” as I define them, which are essentially the perfect medium between a need and a want, to appeal to a broad audience or consumer base. Things that aid in convenience, such as a phone, will always be more marketable than something like a hammer, which is a tool, as opposed to simple convenience, and easy dopamine. 

Human nature is that of productivity and efficiency, when there is a way to do something simpler or with less effort for the same results, our brains will jump at said opportunity. This is a double-edged sword. While said things do increase efficiency, they also may take away from the ability to function without said convenience item, causing some of the population to deem such a thing as essential to living, when it clearly is not. This may be why many people consider the internet as essential in modern times.

A want is just that- something you want. A new, fancy car to replace your old, uglier one, a nice looking watch, a new home. All are things non essential to survival, but do provide us some form of entertainment or satisfaction with their acquisition, thus why we “want” said things. Wants are even more varied than needs, as anyone could want almost anything. 

A want is just that- something you want. A new, fancy car to replace your old, uglier one, a nice looking watch, a new home. All are things non essential to survival, but do provide us some form of entertainment or satisfaction with their acquisition, thus why we “want” said things. Wants are even more varied than needs, as anyone could want almost anything.