The Contemporary Significance of Agnes Heller’s Radical Needs Theory
Abstract
“Needs” are a focal point of Marx’s examination of human historical activities and a topic of his historical materialism. Examining the generation, function, status, and basic connotations of needs throughout the history of human activities laid the basic link of Marxist need theory. The purpose of this paper is to combine the theory of radical needs proposed by Agnes Heller with the concrete reality of China’s modernization construction, to directly address the issue of needs in the contemporary social development process of China, and to promote comprehensive social development with needs as the focal point, highlighting the contemporary significance of this theory. The requirements of Heller’s radical needs theory are also a study and interpretation of the ideals of a better life and the idea of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
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