Need is a word that refers to a lack, a want or an essential requirement. People often use the word when talking about personal needs, and also when describing other people or things. It is a common term used in the fields of philosophy, biology, psychology, economics and social science. The concept of need is a topic of debate and interest in many different areas, and it is an important part of the human condition.
The concept of need is very broad and is a subject of study in various academic disciplines, including philosophy, biology, psychology, sociology, economics and history. One of the best-known academic models is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which explains the basic psychological needs of people. These are characterized as physiological or lower order needs such as food, water and shelter, moving up to the higher order needs of belonging and self-actualization. People tend to spend most of their time and energy trying to fulfill these lower order needs, before they can move on to the higher order ones.
Another academic model of need is the capability approach, developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. This model argues that the satisfaction of human needs cannot be imposed from above, but must be fulfilled through the development and growth of individuals’ internal assets or capabilities. These are characterized as skills, resources, mental health and physical strength. Individuals with these internal capabilities have more choices and positive freedom than those who do not have them.
In English, the concept of need is often confused with the idea of desire or want. To distinguish between the two, it is useful to remember that a need is a deficiency or absence which causes a negative outcome and must be addressed, whereas a want is a desired or desirable thing which does not have this effect. In addition, it is helpful to remember that a need can be met in several ways, while a want can only be satisfied by purchasing or receiving something specific.
It is important to note that the word need can also be used with singular countable nouns such as books, cars and houses. In these cases, it is usually necessary to include the article in the phrase: “a book need”. However, uncountable nouns, such as love and rain, do not require an article. When unsure about whether the article is needed, it is always safest to check in an English learner’s dictionary or look up the noun in question online. A good website to use for this purpose is the University of Toronto’s page on special cases in the usage of the definite article. This chart on articles is also a great help. It provides a useful guide to the articles that are, and are not, required for most nouns. The only exception to this rule is when a noun is a proper noun, such as decades or currencies.