This conceptual paper develops a relational-emergent theory of human needs. It argues that needs are not universal or pre-given categories, but emergent phenomena formed within “lived universes”: relational configurations of meaning, practice, and structure. The paper builds on phenomenology, social constructivism, and critical social theory to reconceptualize needs as outcomes of social processes rather than fixed entities. It introduces three analytical dimensions and examines how needs are shaped, interpreted, and legitimized within specific contexts. By shifting the focus from what needs are to how they emerge, this framework offers new analytical possibilities for social theory, policy, and practice. This paper presents a conceptual framework in development.
Paul Siperius (2026) studied this question.