Question

Abraham Maslow suggested that "a person who is lacking in food, love, and self-esteem would most likely hunger for food more strongly than anything else." Conversely, the novelist Dostoevsky wrote, "without a firm idea of himself and the purpose of his life, man cannot live even if surrounded by bread." Discuss what these authors meant and give evidence that would lead you to support BOTH statements.

Answer 1

Both authors refer to different levels of human needs. Remember that Maslow represented them in a pyramid named "Maslow Hierarchy of Needs". As you know, in a pyramidal representation, you need to fulfill the levels from the bottom to the top. In this case, by completing the levels, a human can achieve self-actualization. Here Maslow refers to the lowest level or the physiological needs (air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction), without these, a human wont be able to focus on other aspects of his life, as he needs these to survive. When having an empty stomach, the only thing you can think of is eating and you will put all you efford into getting food.

Dostoevsky says that although someone can fulfill his basic needs and climb trough this pyramid, without some goals in his life, the human would feel empty. This is what is expressed when people say "money doesn't buy happiness". Humans need something to live for as we know we are finite and our existense will come to an end.