Universal Basic Income: The Maslow Argument

In 1954 Abraham Maslow published his landmark work Motivation and Personality. A true stalwart that you’ll find being taught in virtually every social science and psychology program. In it Maslow lays out his deduction of why humans act the way they do, what they’re motivated by, and what they’re demotivated by.

We can think of our situation (personal, professional, familial, etc.) in life like we do a pyramid. The lower levels of the structure act as support for the upper levels. The lower levels must be there, and they must be stable, in order for the upper ones to exist.

Basic survival makes up the ground floor of our pyramid. We have to eat, drink water, and be protected from the elements. If we can’t do that what’s the point of doing anything else?

Once you have clothes you don’t want to go back to not having clothes. You also want to live in a safe area so your physical self isn’t threatened. But if you happen to be assaulted you want to make sure you have a way to regain your health through medical care. That’s security — “I don’t want to lose what I have”.