What Do People Want? Exploring Human Desires in the Digital Age
You won’t leave with definitive answers, hopefully, a richer appreciation for the complexity and continuity of human desire.
In an era where our desires are increasingly shaped, amplified, directed, and now even generated with technology, it’s crucial to question what it truly means to want something.
From ancient philosophers pondering the nature of happiness to modern-day data scientists analyzing consumer behavior, we have long sought to understand the driving forces behind human desires.
Are our deepest longings fundamentally different from those of our ancestors?
We often forget that people born 4,000 years ago were not biologically different from us. If they were born today, they would likely face similar problems and struggles. Yet, we tend to believe that our modern world has given rise to unique desires and needs. We have been seeking answers through the corridors of human thought for millennia.
Do We Want to Be Happy?
Being happy all the time isn’t realistic or even desirable. Happiness is a state, not a constant. So what else drives us beyond the pursuit of constant happiness?
The Need to Be Understood
At our core, people want to be understood. This manifests in various ways: some seek power or fame to feel exceptional, others crave validation or love. Many desire security through money or control over their time. The need to be understood seems to be a universal human trait, though its expression may vary across different contexts and cultures.
For further exploration of human interaction and personal growth, consider these timeless works:
“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
Carnegie’s principles, such as “Become genuinely interested in other people”, highlight the importance of understanding others in building meaningful relationships. As Carnegie writes, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
“The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz
One of the agreements, “Don’t take anything personally”, resonates with our exploration of maintaining authenticity in the face of external influences. Ruiz reminds us, “Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.”
Self-Actualization in a Digital World
In today’s hyperconnected world, we have unprecedented opportunities for self-expression and instant gratification through digital platforms. Algorithmic recommendations cater to our desires, often before we’re even aware of them.
Technology offers us remarkable conveniences — from instant food delivery to on-demand interaction. These luxuries, unimaginable to our ancestors, have become commonplace. However, we must question whether these advancements, while improving our lives in many ways, might also be devaluing human connection.
The abundance of choice in our digital world brings its own challenges. We face existential anxiety from the dizzying awareness of our freedom to choose, often manifesting as a fear of missing out. My hope is that in the near future, we’ll overcome this, finding peace in being less accessible and more present in our immediate surroundings
The Man from Earth
While we’ve discussed how modern technology shapes our desires, it’s worth considering whether these wants are truly new. To gain perspective on this, let’s look at a unique thought experiment in film.
The movie “The Man from Earth” offers a fascinating perspective on the evolution of human desires. It presents a protagonist who has lived for over 14,000 years, providing a unique view on how human wants have evolved — or remained the same — over vast stretches of time.
Where does our deepest fulfillment truly come from? Is it the objects of our desire, the connections we create, the meaning we find, or perhaps the empathy we extend to others on their journeys of wanting and becoming?
One final question:
What do you truly want?
