Educational needs of an adult as an individual and a social being form the bases of every educational activity and are an important issue of every discussion about adult education. If human needs are understood as the motivation, the specific energy that turns into striving to achieve an aim, or an expression of a lack, then it follows that educational needs are the motivator of every act of education. Understanding and respect of adult needs are preconditions of every conceptualization of adult education, of the theoretical foundation and practice. One main issue of adult education theory and practice is to dedicate special attention to the nature of educational needs and not only to the practical identification and analysis of educational needs as a condition for modeling adult education and practical performance of these models. In the very root of the question of the nature of educational needs is a more important question with its roots in the core of education itself. It is the question of the relationship between the individual and society. Educational needs of adults should be regarded as both human and societal needs. They should motivate and encourage individual development in accordance with social needs. The role of adult education theory and practice is to create the assumptions that people become aware of latent educational needs and remove obstacles to their fulfillment. Conceptualization of educational needs should be regarded as the key question of adult education theory and practice. (13-item bibliography) (YLB)