p.366 A challenging problem of needs research is how to define a need. "Needs"
are theoretical constructs. The truth of those needs cannot, therefore, be proven in a direct physical way. The existence
of a need can be concluded indirectly either from postulation or from the respective satisfiers that a person uses or strives
for, or from symptoms of frustration caused by any kind of nonsatisfaction.
p.366 Once the notion of human needs is clarified, one should deal with
the application of some techniques - Operations Research, Systems Analysis, and Systems Engineering - to fulfill them
p.367 the term ‘needs’ would stand for general principles of
human existence. Accordingly, a list of human needs could serve as a guideline for monitoring conditions
adequate to human conditions, irrespective of cultural differences all over the world.
p.367 Needs methodology, as Galtung states (1980), "would
be to inspire [people] into awareness, not to steer and direct them into well-structured need sets". [JLJ - corrected
quote from Galtung, "need sets" not "needs sets"]
p.368 Mallmann (1980) outlines a conception of human needs
based on a systemic view of society. He postulates that "Goals of development should always be expressed in terms
of the needs satisfaction aimed at as compared to needs satisfaction as it is". [JLJ - quotation is corrected
from Mallmann, 1980]
p.368 One way of creating an image of man is through an image of the needs
of man... What are the criteria that something has to [satisfy] in order to be classified as a human need?
p.370 Genuine needs are those whose satisfaction leads to
the recognition and development of basic human abilities.
False, artificial needs are those that are irrelevant to the
development of human abilities and thus (directly or indirectly) hamper and block this development.
p.371 We do not think that there is any solution in the sense of a stable,
universally agreed-upon list of human needs.
p.375 Limits of growth do not limit development. Development
"is not a state defined by what a person has. It is a process in which an individual increases his ability and desire to satisfy
his own desires and those of others. It is an increase in capacity and potential, not an increase in attainment"
(Ackoff, 1981, p. 35).
p.376 A model of development should indicate some steps on the path
toward a higher level of satisfaction of needs... Development is a complex process and will have to be reflected
through a set of indicators rather than by means of a single one.
p.377 A scale of measurement for a particular need to which
a scale of values is associated should be defined. This scale measures the degree of "goodness" or
"badness" in achieving the concept of value involved.
