Simon Hertnon's Upstream Philosophy Blog

A theory of universal human needs

A theory of universal human needs

  Even simpler than Abraham Maslow’s 5-tier Hierarchy of Needs, and Clayton Alderfer’s 3-part ERG Theory, my Theory of Universal Human Needs has just two types of need: survival and betterment. Why we do the things we do. Survival needs Betterment...

Cinema unanimity

Cinema unanimity

  A strange thing happens in cinemas: unanimity. In the real world, few of us can agree on how we should live our lives; but as cinema-goers we are typically unanimous—that’s right, unanimous—about what...

Organized for romance

Organized for romance

If I had to describe my experience of fatherhood in a single word I would choose surprising. Sure, wonderful, exhausting, fun, and rewarding would all have made the list, but surprise is the emotion I...