Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, published in 1943 as part of “A Theory of Human Motivation,” is a theory in psychology visualized in a pyramid form. Proposed by Abraham Maslow, this theory still appears in psychological discussions and analysis of human behavior to this day. However, experts believe in the bold idea that this tier of basic human needs now includes technology.
Through technology, a human being can combine two distinct sciences – human biology and computer science – into one. This involves the integration of hardware and software into the human flesh and mind, a rare opportunity that may allow humans overcome their known physical limitations.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory on motivation covers five tiers of human needs, stating that human beings act in order to satisfy some needs and that some of the needs are considered more important than others. Under this theory, the most basic human need is for physical survival, the first motivator of human behavior. Once the first level has been fulfilled, a person being moves towards the second level, and so on.
Maslow’s five levels is broadly divided into two: deficiency needs and growth needs. The first four levels from the bottom of the pyramid going up are the deficiency needs, while the top level refers to the growth or being needs.
Many experts in the field of psychology believe that Maslow’s hierarchy is incomplete. The experts claim that even Maslow, later in his life, started working on the final stage of human motivation. This means that there is the realization that self-actualization is not the pinnacle of human needs. It is not the apex of human achievements either, where the person will be comfortably resting upon reaching this stage and doing nothing but enjoy what he had accomplished in life. That leaves the person unmotivated to do anything productive anymore.
And Then There Was Tech
Maslow reportedly wanted to add self-transcendence to be the pinnacle of the pyramid. This means that a person pushes further than the stage of self-actualization through spiritual meditation, self-denial, and recently through technology, that will challenge the definition of consciousness to expand his body of knowledge. The goal of technology is to expand beyond self-knowledge, which will be the ultimate stage of human development.
Through technology, a human being can combine two distinct sciences – human biology and computer science – into one. This involves the integration of hardware and software into the human flesh and mind, a rare opportunity that may allow humans overcome their known physical limitations.
Science is currently doing extensive researches on how to prolong human life using technology. In the past decades, lives benefited from organ transplants, already cutting-edge technology that is nothing but recycling one part from a person to replace the damaged part in another person. Science keeps pushing the boundaries of knowledge farther and farther. Studies are underway to artificially replace damaged organs through bionic hearts, kidneys, and other vital organs of the body.
Human intelligence is moving beyond its limits by the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Robots with artificial intelligence can easily perform tasks that are difficult for humans.
Technology has become so basic and fundamental that people will feel deprived once their access to it has been taken away. Many people today cannot imagine living in a world without Internet and smartphones.
The only question is placing technology in the different tiers of the pyramid. Many people will consider technology as important as food, air, and water. There will be those that will consider technology on the same level as safety needs, and so on. Still, there are people that will consider technology to be at the top of the pyramid, the culmination of human achievement. The jury is still out.