What are the basis of human wants?

Answer 1

Basic necessities for human survival are water, food, shelter, and, depending upon climate, clothing. Beyond that, everything else is a luxury.

But you specifically asked about civilization (or civilization, depending upon where you live). Civilization at least theoretically requires a complex society of humans, practicing agriculture and living in cities. By this definition, small groups of hunter-gatherers do not constitute a civilization. We "civilized" peoples who live in cities and hold jobs usually classify such small groups as either barbarians or savages, depending upon their skill levels.

But I should like to remind everyone that in the first half of the last century, the "civilized" world inflicted upon itself the two most devastating wars in history. It's estimated that 20 million "civilized" people lost their lives in World War 1, and possibly as many as 60 million people may have lost their lives in World War 2. We attacked and killed one another and detonated an unbelievable amount of explosive power in flattening the cities that, by definition, make a civilization. And now we have nuclear weapons. "Civilization" has made it possible to flatten an entire city with but a single bomb. Yay.

For thousands of years before the 20th Century, of course, "civilized" peoples have been hell-bent on slaughtering one another for all sorts of "good" reasons, including and especially disputes over religion; the how and why to worship, or not worship, God. This particular bit of nonsense plagues "civilization" right down to the present day.

Therefore, may I suggest that the real test of a civilization may be civility -- showing regard for others. Being polite. Holding the door. Refraining from punching your neighbor in the nose because you don't like the way he prays, or doesn't pray, or because he doesn't happen to agree with the form of government you have chosen, or because he "talks funny" or "looks funny" or you've decided you like where he lives better than where you live so you think you have a right to take over his house, his land, even to the point of killing him to get it. (If you don't think this is possible, study the thinking of the Nazi Germans at the start of World War 2.)

Thus, I would argue that the basic necessities for the survival of human civilization are: water, food, shelter, clothing, and civility. Kindness. Compassion. Consideration. Respect. Politeness.

It just so happens that this is being written on Christmas Day, a day where the message is supposed to be Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All Humans, irrespective of religion, race, creed, national origin, skin color, political persuasion or any other "good" reason that "civilized" peoples have in the past used as an excuse to butcher one another. Whether you are Christian, or any other religion, or no religion at all, the message remains the same. "Can't we all just get along?"

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Addendum

What you write is true, but incomplete. Survival of a species as high on the evolutionary chain as humanity does in fact depend upon food, water, clothing and shelter, but this list should also include 'protection'. For a given species (and not just humanity) to survive there must be in place, in addition to biological necessities, a mechanism of protection to allow for growth, productivity and progress. Remove the element of protection, and the culture, civilization, pack, group, tribe or whatever will eventually be attacked by natural forces of nature and/or humanistic desire for control and driven into extinction. The forces of nature are held at bay by civil and public works in the form of flood control, irrigation, healthcare and public fire and rescue services. Construction projects aimed at holding and/or controlling flooding or extreme weather events are forms of protection that fight against the forces of nature. Do you think 'nature' has any interest in 'just getting along'? I think not!

Another area of protection is community, state and federal government protection. We in the United States take for granted our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness because of the strong civil and governmental social services programs (police, fire, ambulatory, emergency and military services) present in our country. Fortunately, in the United States, these are 'controlled' public services, unlike the militia of totalitarian governments, but never the less 'controlled'. Without this presence, 'civility' will take a deep backseat to the inherent, ruthless attitudes and nature of mental deviants. The Darwinist proclamation 'The Survival of the Fittest' will run rampant and those without civil protective services will be as much at risk of annihilation as if standing in the path of a tornado, hurricane or tsunami wave.

So, not to dispute the primary biological ingredients of food, water, clothing and shelter, but these elements must also be 'protected' in order to provide the long term effect of growth and productivity. The points of issue are real, physical ingredients that go into survival. Civility and human kindness are 'emotional' responses just as is anger, resentment, and desire. We as a human race are at the mercy of these emotions - good and bad - and therefore must be either 'self' governed or 'publically' governed. Granted, a civil approach is the more humane point of view. Either way, survival depends upon, in addition to food, water, clothing and shelter, a reasonable degree of 'protection' to insure that the long term effects of these first four elements of existence are kept safe for humanity to grow, live long lives and prosper. God Bless Australia!

Bushpilot048 is a smart person! Almost as smart as Danetello for writing this :P