Many people think justice requires that the needs–or, perhaps, basic needs–of individuals be met. Some think this requires direct government provision; others think government must merely make it possible for individuals to provide themselves (and their loved ones) with basic needs.  I'm not taking a stand on this issue here.  I want only to raise a question: "what is a need?"

I think this is an important question for anyone that thinks justice involves (in whatever fashion) the satisfaction of needs.  I take it nutrition is something we need.  I take it shelter is something we need.  Ditto sleep and rest.  I would likely accept that companionship and humor are needs.  Others suggest that designer clothes, computers, and cell phones are needs.  I am skeptical.  I am also skeptical of the claim that we need to be treated with the esteem that is in some way proportional to our status, productivity, or age.

So what is a need?  I tend to think that some things that matter to us—even things that matter deeply to us—are not needs.  I suspect needs are things we could not do without.  Taking that literally, they are things we would die without.  Is that right?  If so, many fewer things count than people talk about.

Perhaps we can say (this seems plausible to me) that “I need X if I am to Y.”  In that construction, if Y is "live," X is clearly a need.  I am tempted by the thought that for any other Y, the related Xs are wants.  Some may be important, but not a genuine need.  Is that right?  

ADDED: I like the idea that Y might be "live minimally well."  I think the idea that Y might be "flourish" is also compelling.  The capablities approach offered by Sen and Nussbaum is plausible in its own right.  In each case, though, do we want to say the related X's are "needs"?  (We might think, of course, that justice has to do with individuals having more then just what they need.)