Is WANT more powerful than NEED?

Answer 1

got is most powerful

Answer 2

It depends on your own beliefs.
Some people may decided that they need what they need and that is more powerful than any of their wants... or a person could have such great desire that they sacrifice even their most essential needs for that want. You could believe that it was quite even, or have some belief in one.

I think that it is more of an even split, but unless there was something I desired with all my being and soul, I would probably not give up any of my most essential needs.

But that would solely be your choice when it comes to favoring one side or the other... if you'd like to call them sides.

Although, since wants and needs are both separate things, maybe you'll just have to look at them as two totally separate things, opposed to comparing them.

Answer 3

Want, in my opinion, is more powerful than need. Many people's desires is far more demanding than their needs. Say, you need a husband or wife. Yet you want a HOT or good looking spouse. And sometimes, because you want it so badly, you completely look over the best candidate for your spouse. But then of course, want can and may also easily turn into need. It really depends on the situation. Some people can't live without beautiful people.

-ELaine

Answer 4

Need is surely more powerful than want

Answer 5

Need wins it hands down. But wants can be very powerful to the point you think they are Needs.

Answer 6

NEED and WANT are sometimes synonymous. Imagine you are stranded in a desert and NEED food and water. Do you not begin to imagine the most juicy, drenched slab of steak? Or the tallest, glass of divine, life-giving water? Do you not seemingly lust for these things; do you not WANT them?

It's really a matter of context. To NEED to lose weight is different than to WANT to lose weight. Or to WANT to take drugs is different than to NEED to take drugs.

NEED : WELFARE : : WANT : FREEDOM

To constrain someone from possessing either of the above concepts, is to incite the wrath of the corresponding emotion.

To stretch it even further, this is much like the model governments base themselves off of:

NEED : SOCIALISM : : WANT : CAPITALISM

NEED : COMMUNISM : : WANT : DEMOCRACY

Personally, I take the Nietzschean concept that the "will to power" (WANT) is more instinctual than "will to live" (NEED). That is, people will go so far as completely disregard their NEEDS to supplement their WANTS. Look at Buddhist protestors who set themselves on fire or Islamic martyrs who commit suicide bombings.

Paradoxically, most of the ideas, the WANTS, these martyrs fight in the name of are infact for a certain people's welfare, their NEEDS. But most times these acts are committed in the name of religion which is an entirely different concept.

A counter argument to my personal belief would be, "Wouldn't someone's WANTS have to emerge after their NEEDS have been satisfied?" Sure but how are these NEEDS usually met? Usually by changing the NEED into a passionate WANT and sustaining a rageful revolution from that. Thus, in this case, the NEED would be the cause and the WANT would be the affect and the revolution would be the effect.

Vice-versa for drugs addicts, their WANT is the cause of their drug a abuse, which changes into the affect, their NEED to abuse drugs which results into the effect, intervention, financial problems, homelessness, family disruption, possibly death, possibly recover, etc.

Answer 7

I'd say want is more powerful (obviously depends on the context, maybe Need would be greater in a life threatening situation but then wouldn't you choose an option because you WANT to live rather than NEED to).

Answer 8

Intensity defines the power of each. Needs in incredible intensity, over-ride wants. Needs of lower intensity, are over-riden by the delusions of delusional wants.

the basic necessities of life are less powerful than the delusions of wants in your head when needs are less poignant. The minds capacity for delusion, can over-ride the prescept needs set forth by nature.

When the needs of your body become of incredible intensity, you cannot see pass the needs, they are your only wants...your wants become your needs, and you only think of this.

When you have your needs satisfied, but you become overly obssesive over a want, then the want can over-ride your needs...but only to a point....until the intensity of the needs over-rides thsoe of your wants..

Since needs were hardwired in you from nature through the wisdom of millions of years of evolution....the need excites a sensual penalty for failure, wants, on the other hand, have penalties come from the outside, or thought process.

Since intensity is greater for the need...in a battle between superfluous wants and need...Need always wins out...

if you become obssessed on becoming the fastest rubix cuber, but neglect sleep, food and drink...you will soon, succumb to the need, just due to the effects of your being on your capacity to accomplish your want...and the pain and slumber...will have you satisfy your need before you satisfy your want.

Need is more powerful as a whole if the two were put in a game of arms.

Answer 9

Id say no, having spent time as a single parent on a low income the Need for things to survive day to day was the priority over my "wanting" something.

Answer 10

Need is more powerful of course.

Answer 11

It may depend on your chemical make up as well as your goals in life.

Your question brings to mind a recent article that is fascinating.

There is a part of the brain that appears to be associated with addiction and when it is damaged, you seem to no longer have addictive routine of cigarettes at least.

See link below.