Abraham Maslow on self-actualization
From his book Toward a Psychology of Being :
Furthermore, all these basic needs may be considered to be simply steps along the path to general self-actualization…
By taking these data into account, we can solve many value problems that philosophers have struggled with ineffectually for centuries. For one thing, it looks as if there were a single ultimate value for mankind, a far goal toward which all people strive.
This is called variously by different authors self-actualization, self-realization, integration, psychological health, individuation, autonomy, creativity, productivity, but they all agree that this amounts to realizing the potentialities of the person, that is to say, becoming fully human, everything that the person can become.
Continued in article Toward a Psychology of Being [excerpts from book]
Related article by Maslow: Self-Actualizing and Beyond.
