This caught my eye, and made me think about comparisons and points of
view. I don't know your experience in the villages, but is it possible
that if a person becomes used to a certain level of nutrition then they
might go on to 'higher' levels, evn tho' those nutritional levels would be
thought inadequate by another culture?
It's hard to make generalisations. I do know that when I am on a fast, I
become very lethargic and do not think clearly, it makes it hard to do
anything very much. But it doesn't mean I would necessarily choose food
above some other activity.
I also know that when I am very tired my body will insist I sleep in
preference to almost anything else. Certainly if ythe 'lower' levels are
satisfied it makes it very much easier to become interested in the
'higher' levels. Our physiology always gives a bottom line.
Joseph O'Connor
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Host's Note: Mike McMaster has left the list to concentrate on a project.
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In message <820818564.22001.0@kbddean.demon.co.uk>, Michael McMaster
<Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk> writes
>I feel compelled to rescue Maslow once more. Or at least regenerate
>him. Maslow's hierarchy was probably never linear to him and, in
>light of contemporary theory, can be useful without being considered
>so.
>
>It is simply not true that the "base level" needs must be satisfied
>before the higher level ones come into play or can be satisfied. I
>have been to villages of starving people and many are more self-aware
>and self-actualised than most of North America and the rest of the
>"oversatisfied" world.
>
>We are complex beings and one of the implications of that is "all
>levels are active all of the time". While the focus changes and at
>different times one particular level may be dominant, this is neither
>linear nor static. Being complex, it is also possible to realise one
>level by operating at another. Each level contains the others. We
>are not dealing with a reductionist model either.
>
>I don't recall whether Maslow realised this at least by implication -
>the thinking of his time wasn't as well developed in these areas -
>but I'm sure that if he were thinking today, we would see advances in
>his work that would incorporate if not extend contemporary thinking.
>
>We can do ourselves and Maslow a service by re-interpreting his work
>in light of current thinking in the sciences and philosophy.
>Hopefully such endeavours will help us lift ourself up by our own
>bootstraps from the thinking of classical science.
>
>Michael McMaster
>Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk
-- Joseph O'Connor joseph@lambent.demon.co.uk