Ojuice5001

The categorization of physical, social, and spiritual needs is mainly based on the question "What are you relating yourself to?" Physical needs relate the individual to the immediate environment and his physiological needs. Social needs are self-explanatory--they relate the individual to society. Spiritual needs relate the individual to himself, and to the universe in general, and to any gods that may exist.

This three-part (not two-part!) system has cropped up in a lot of philosophies. Especially Plato's. In Plato's system, you have appetites (physical, flesh), which are based on relatively immediate concerns--the farthest they reach outward is a desire for money, etc. Next you have the will (social, world), which governs choices like the commitment to show up for work on time, and is strongly influenced by the norms that were given in socialization. Finally you have reason (spiritual, devil), which makes you care about wisdom, oneness with the universe, beauty, and other similar concerns. With three parts of our identity, it begins to be tenable that there are three kinds of influence on our identity, and that a system (biology/socialization) that allows for only two may be incomplete.

(Edited to change message icon.)

[ May 02, 2002: Message edited by: Ojuice5001 ]</p>