Human Liberation and the Right to Need-Satisfaction

Abstract

So far we have argued that health and autonomy are basic needs common to all humans irrespective of culture. We have further shown that there are specific societal conditions for the satisfaction of both needs. But we have not been concerned with the moral issue of whether people’s needs should be met. Not everyone accepts that they have an obligation to aid those in serious need. Without such a moral theory we can only preach to the converted. This is by no means a pointless task. Given the assaults of relativism, and the withering attacks from upholders of rather crass forms of individualism — the ‘me-now’ ethic — in recent years, those who uphold the morality of meeting basic needs require as much rational support for their beliefs as possible. But their arguments need situating within a broader moral context if others are to be convinced. Otherwise why should they be expected to move from the ‘is’ of need to the ‘ought’ of the responsibility to do something about it?