On Maslow and the Universe.

Dec 20, 2007 at 8:39 AM
18 comments

I have been inspired by Patricia's recent post to contribute something better to the blogosphere than my constant whining about politics.

A couple of recent posts from Voxers have got me pondering the Maslow Heirarchy of Needs. The posts were Baria's about what works in blogging, and Paxton's about the universe in which we live. On the one hand, Baria laments our preoccupation with the mundane things of this life, while Paxton exhalts the breath-taking grandeur of our universe. The content of both posts can be easily slotted into Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs, Baria's refers to the lower rungs of the ladder while Paxton's refers to the highest self actualisation layer.

Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

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I remember when I first looked through a telescope, and imagined myself in some far off galaxy looking back on planet Earth. I like to think that at that moment I moved from a human centric world view to a universe centric one. My Earthly concerns seemed to diminish when placed in the context of a mind boggling universe. For me, that was when I felt I had attained Maslow's self actualisation layer. Carl Sagan's " Pale Blue Dot", and Neil de Grasse Tyson's "Cosmic Perspective" are further examples of my version of self actualisation.

So it is that throughout life I have clambered up and down Maslow's Heirarchy. I have found at times of great mental anguish that to go outside and observe this wondrous universe always helps to diminish my anguish, and to place those lower layer Maslow concerns in their proper perspective, or as Paxton says, "Don't sweat the small stuff". In later years, now that our brood has fluttered their wings, I find myself drawn more and more to Maslow's self actualisation layer, and reluctant to spend time in those lower layers. Some would call it "getting old and lazy", I guess. No matter. Self actualisation sounds better to me.

So, at this time of the year, when we like to forget those lower Maslow layers for a few days, I invite my fellow Voxers to spend a little time gazing at those stars with me, and reflecting on the miracle of life that we share, and compare, here on Vox. Yes, I know that many of you will probably be reflecting more on your frozen feet. That Maslow sure knew what he was talking about.

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This is so wonderful. And so astute. Wow, when you say you're going to up the bar, you really do it....

Oh and by the way, I forgot to add, there's nothing wrong with your posts about politics,. They've taught me a lot!

Snowy how will I get up to date with our political landscape if you stop posting about it, I would have to go and read all those articles for myself..;)

Yes, Maslow sure did know something !!

Oh there'll still be political postings, Patricia and Worker. This old leopard won't be changing his spots so easily. Maybe rearranging them, so to speak...

well said snowy but - lol, I can't imagine the political postings going too far away.

You know me too well, Cat...

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This is a wonderful post

It's interesting that you would post this, since I was just reviewing Maslow's Hierarchy earlier today as part of a train-the-trainer lesson plan I'm putting together for work.

Another interesting thing about Maslow's theory is that it was designed after studying people who were highly self-actualized, not people with everyday neuroses or stumbling blocks in their lives. Given that, the pyramid shape of the hierarchy may be idealized - what we want our priorities in life to look like if we're to be spiritually healthy. People who don't have their priorities straight, for instance, may give up safety and security in seek of fame (esteem).

I don't think the theory is very complete, in terms of describing human motivation, but it's a great place to start thinking about it.

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Just last night I watched Alien Galaxies on the History Channel and was amazed and delighted all over again by the vastness of the universe. Your problems shrink so quickly from such a gargantuan perspective :) Lovely post, Snowy.
I live in the tropics and winters are really not very cold here. So I'll manage to keep my focus on the stars :)

Hello, Snowy. Nice to meet ya', especially with a post providing such a yummy jumping off spot for thought and blogging. One of my degrees is in psychology, but it's been years since I've been exposed to this pyramid. The first thing that went through my mind when I saw this again was that the base of the pyramid can't really be "actualized" without the top of it. Without problem solving, creativity, spontaneity in adjusting to circumstance, you can't build shelter, gather food (and store it), maintain balance, or find a sanitary place to dispose of excretions. I'd never seen that before in the pyramid. Thanks for posting it.

I'll take a gander at the sky tonight. We're still a few degrees above freezing here on the desert, so no frozen feet complaints here :-)

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I have come, in my life, to see this totally differently. I think he's wrong that there's a hierarchy of needs, as I think they are all too intertwined to be separated out like that. I think that the disdain for the mundane tasks of everyday life that exists in certain groups of people separates them from an essential core of the human.

I also think that, other than the physiological needs, there is only one human need, and that is love.

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Snowy
I guess I am guilty of wallowing in the depths of the lower echelons. In my defence I only want to try and point out the fact that we should indeed aspire to the higher levels.

Isn't that what life is all about?

Sometimes when I read your blogs I wonder why you aren't PM. We need chaps like you to lift our eyes and aspirations and stop blokes like me from splashing about in the gutter!

Although - sometimes the gutter is quite a fun place to be....:)

I only want to try and point out the fact that we should indeed aspire to the higher levels.

That is exactly how I read that post, Baria. I understood it to be illustrating that by necessity we need to spend so much of our time providing for the physical needs in this life, that it is easy to become preoccupied with them. I did not mean to in any way disparage your post. Quite the contrary, I agreed with every word of it. That is why I referred to it. I am sorry if I didn't make that clear.

I also agree that I would make a very good P.M. In the unlikely event that ever happens, rest assured that my cabinet will be composed entirely of Voxers, including Baria. I will ensure that the liquor cabinet is also well stocked with JW. After all, if one is to believe Maslow, then we do need to provide for essential physical needs first.

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What we all need to do is move beyond 'self'. Maslow provides a fabulous series of pigeon-holes that are very helpful in gaining insight and peaceful acceptance of our behaviours and character, which is obviously a very good thing. However, it can also be used to justify, or validate stuff that we really shouldn't find to easy to classify as acceptable, on the grounds that ..."hey, this is who, or what I am and there, ya see, this guy Maslow has shown I am like many others, so it's okay...". You see the problem? Maslow provides us with a fabulous tool, which is arguably more useful for advancing our understanding of others than ourselves. Anyone who's existence is entirely concentrated on attending to their Physiological and Safety needs on a day to day basis has never heard of Maslow. What a luxurious perspective of life and the universe we enjoy.

Snowy
no worries at all

Right now I think we have only one physical need and that is to enjoy Christmas.

have a good one my friend

see you in Canberra! (PS can I have foreign affairs please?)