EXPLORATION OF HUMAN DESIRES: A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON FORESIGHT AND SOCIAL PLANNING

Waclaw A. KASPRZAK¹, Karol I. PELC²

Questions about the Future

Publication language: English

Journal article

Transformations No. 3-4 (94-95) 2017,  Publication date: 30 November 2017

Article No. 20171130153520373

Keywords: human needs, human desires, well-being, foresight, social planning

Abstract Distinction between human needs and desires is viewed as important subject for consideration in foresight, social planning and all other studies related to social change. Human desires are defined as expression of subjective wishes that are not always founded on rational principles or beneficial for individuals interested in their satisfaction. Those desires are related to but not identical with objective human needs. In general, the level of human sense of happiness depends on satisfaction of desires. However satisfaction of some human desires doesn’t necessarily bring positive effects for individual well-being and may not lead to solving individual or social problems. To the contrary, it may lead to pathologies. Unfortunately, lack of satisfaction of such human desires that extend beyond objective needs may lead to frustration and conflicts at a social scale. On the other hand, satisfaction of objective needs guarantees possibility of safe existence. The authors suggest using analysis of both human needs and desires as a conceptual framework for the foresight and social planning. A social planning model following this approach is also presented.

1. Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland

2. Michigan Technological University,1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton,Michigan 49931, U.S.A.

   E-mail: kipelc@mtu.edu

Open PDF