Let us try to understand the difference between Human world and Animal world through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which is quite a familiar exposition to describe human behavior in the most scientific way.
Maslow defined five needs. These needs are – Physiological, Safety, Love & belonging, Esteem and Self-actualization. Of the five needs, the bottom three i.e., physiological, safety, love & belonging are ‘Basic or Survival’ needs. The other two needs at the top relate to the growth and development of an individual and are called ‘Growth’ needs.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is in the shape of a triangle, with survival needs at the bottom and gradually developing into the higher order of needs. The basic needs of an individual must be met before the next need in the hierarchy gets his / her attention. The need triangle also emphasizes how people are intrinsically motivated for moving from one level to another throughout their journey in life
On the other hand, the needs for esteem and self-actualization are typical features of the human world that drive the career growth. The constant pursuit for social approval creates the need for esteem, followed by perceived need for self-actualization. These needs unleash the full potential of an individual.
These growth needs, not normally found in animals, are special traits of human life. These needs are the wheel of civilization. This is what Aristotle 3000 years ago identified as “inner urge to grow”. This aspect distinguishes humans from all other living beings and continually elevates human life to a higher level of civilization.
Therefore, we must come to terms with reality and accept the fact that growth is an inherent necessity for everyone. There is nothing wrong in being ambitious. In the process there will be competition as the resources are limited. This will lead to conflicts and confrontations, giving rise to various political and social problems. These are normal and natural hazards of life and we should learn to handle them.
In such a situation a controlling authority (the government) naturally takes a stand to set the limits of these needs so that the society can live in harmony and people can satisfy their own lives without violating or transgressing the space of others. However, setting these limits that are acceptable to all, is the most difficult task of the government.
1 thought on “Human world Vs. Animal world- Part 2”
Very informative
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