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Mmm. I'd put them both in the spectrum of want, where need is simply further in, being more "pressing", a thirst that physically or psychologically "has to be quenched". Biological stuff like hunger and the need for sleep are here but I mean, you don't have to fulfill them because you can just die and it's not like the universe would crumble because of it. It's not "necessary".
And, whilst reason can help you understand these wants (and classify them and even curtail them), they come up by themselves. Like, even infants understand injustice and hate it and wanna "make things right" (YT has several videos on the topic), even if they don't have the words to express it yet.
Hopefully what I said here makes some sort of sense, lol.
If you argue like that, then nothing is necessary and the word can be forgotten. But how about we do not define necessary as something that needs to happen to keep the universe going and instead something people have to do to survive? Then we have another word to distinguish how important something is. And of course that is also how everyone uses that word, so using it this way is also simply normal and anything else will result in misunderstandings.
Eventually that group of "things" grows endlessly, no? The hedonistic treadmill?
You can keep a person alive in a zoo easily. Water, food, shelter. Untill they realise they're in a zoo. Then the "need" for freedom arises.
Why does the list grow? How? Who does that? And of course there are more details than just energy/nutrition, water on that list, those are just the most obvious and basic things. You also need breathable air etc.
The example, freedom, is undefined. People in the USA think they have freedom, I think they are living in a dystopian world.
Exactly my question too.
I observe it everywhere. For example when people say they need a vacation. Or when people say they need strong social bonds.
It's obviously not a necessity to keep their body alive. But I do believe they view it as a genuine need?
People say lots of things, there is no need to take it in the most literal way possible.
Where I live it made it into law even: vacation is mandatory because the majority decided it's a need.