In general, living organic beings will always have a material dependence. Human beings may have a dominant form, but because they are "higher" in the scale of things, there is an even greater dependence upon a "material element". Take money for example. What other creature roams the earth that has created a whole system of dependence upon money? What is money? It is a fabricated "material" that has found value in the eyes of man. Such is this value, that some humans rate their success in life by the amount of money they have amassed. Look at the other creatures of the earth. They do not depend upon a fabricated "material" for success and happiness. Money isn't the only material dependence of man. For one thing, humans depend upon other forms for survival because they are creatures of consumption. Not only has consumption come to mean the devouring of other creatures, but it has come to mean a "consumption of material things". Hence, shoppers are called consumers because they are out buying "material" things.
             To be human is to have that constant striving for that which is lacking. Although humans may have achieved much since the beginning of mankind, there is always going to be something lacking. Such a lack will lead to a need. Eventually, this need then becomes desire. I believe that humans are generally goal-oriented beings. They will always be pursuing something they are lacking. This goal-oriented way of life is an important facet of human life because it comes into direct conflict with the rate at which potential varies during the human life span. Take this example: An athlete, or any other profession where the body is constantly perfected, only stands to lose over time. While we are young, we may experience gains in potentiality on an upward trend, but at a certain point in our lives, the potential will start on a downward trend. The process of degeneration take...