Viktor Frankl’s thesis found in Man’s Search for Meaning is repeated multiple times, in different ways throughout his book. On page 111 he states, “According to logotherapy, we can discover this meaning in life in three different ways: (1) by creating a work or doing a deed; (2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering” (Frankl). This is not saying that all of those qualities have to be present to find one’s meaning though especially suffering. The only way to find the meaning of life is by answering your own call for life, not what others value as meaning. Each meaning
Dr. Frankl also explains his theory on neurosis and how it is tied to the meaning of life. Frankl differs from the ideas of Freud. Freud believed that the basis of neurosis is in unconscious motives. Frankl believes that the basis for neurosis is man's search for his own meaning. Furthermore he explains that ones own meaning is constantly changing; therefor, the means for our suffering is constantly changing. Frankl explains, "What matters, therefor, is not the meaning of life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment." Frankl describes we discover our specific meaning at a given moment. "We can discover this meaning in life in three different ways: (1) by doing a deed; (2) by
We are meant to become our truest selves by finding meaning in our lives, which, according to Frankl, can come from three places: work, love, and our attitude in the face of horrific suffering or difficulty. And at the center of this meaning is our responsibility and human right to choose. In Frankl’s theory, we all strive to fulfill a self-chosen goal, from which meaning has the potential to be found. And if no meaning is found, there is meaning yet to be found, or meaning to be drawn from the apparent lack of meaning. Whatever the case, Frankl viewed man’s lack of meaning as the greatest existential crisis, the stress of this meaninglessness giving life and shape to all of our neuroses.
Through Frankl's view of suicide you can discover his view of human person. Suicide is wrong in all cases, and should not be even considered an option. He believes that all people can find some meaning in life which would prevent them from giving up all hope and ending their lives. Every human life has meaning, and therefore every human life has value. While in a concentration camp serving as a doctor to those who were ill with typhus or other diseases, he encountered two individuals who had given up hope on life. He asked them both to think of something worth living for. One answered that he had a son waiting for him at home, and the other said he was writing a book and wanted to finish it. Frankl helped them find meaning in their lives to hold on to some hope. Just as they did, anyone can find a meaning to live for, whether it be another person or a goal or achievement.
Existentialism is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre, was published in 1945 at the height of Existentialism's cultural resurgence. As Sartre states in his opening line, his purpose is to “offer a defence of existentialism against some charges that have been brought against it.” (Sartre, 1945) At a time where Existentialism was heavily associated with wearing black and smoking (Fahlenbrach, 2012) Sartre felt the need to draw attention to its philosophical and more meaningful aspects, beyond it simply being a passing trend. Sartre outlines, “Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. That is the first principle of existentialism” (Sartre, 1945) This is rooted in what Sartre believes to be the basis of all Existential
In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl tells the honest story of his own experiences as an inmate in a concentration camp during World War II. In his book, Frankl answers the question “How was everyday life in a concentration camp reflected in the mind of the average prisoner?” (Frankl, 2006, p. 3) He describes the physical, emotional, and psychological torment that he endured as well as the effect that the camp had on those around him. He breaks down the psychological experience as a prisoner into three stages: the initial shock upon admission into the camp, apathy, and the mental reactions of the prisoner after liberation. He highlights certain emotions experienced throughout the time in the camp such as delusions of reprieve, hope, curiosity, surprise, and even humor.
He shares his story like many holocaust survivors had, but he chooses to focus on others more often than himself when he is making a point, an example of this is when he focuses on his friend’s F--- hopes which slowly die away as time begins to pass and nothing is fulfilled for him; and so with his hopes, the man also dies. F---’s hope was to see freedom come, and when it did not his body gave way to Typhus. His experiences are in sections; he places them in perspective by (1) arrival to the camps, (2) the degradation of live in the camps, and (3) then finally upon being released or liberated from the camps. Frankl’s and his fellow inmate’s struggles illuminated a path that was chosen and sought, beyond their immediate incapacities. “The opposite of humanity is brutality, the failure to acknowledge the humanity of one’s fellow man, the failure to be sensitive to his needs, to his situation. Brutality is often due to a failure of imagination as well as to the tendency to treat a person as a generality, to regard a person as an average man,” relevance of this quote is in regard to the Kapos, fellow inmates who disregard another person’s life for their own benefit. Upon arriving to the camps, they lose liberty. Once adapted to the life in the camps, they begin a search (this is the moment where community is sought) “Man achieves fullness of being in fellowship, in care for others. He expands his
Frankl trusted that in spite of the fact that the Nazi 's could force much suffering on him, could rid of his family, and could detain him, they could not choose how he was. He had control over the way he would act, respond, and carry on. Regardless of what they did, he would choose his conduct and be in charge of it. My aim is neither to abridge the book for you, nor to clarify the ideas of existential treatment, so I will move here to my evaluation and reaction to Frankl 's book. To start with, I need to repeat that this book is a superb read. For anybody new to the outrages of a death camp, the tale of human triumph even with such barbarities alone is justified regardless of the read. It also gives a rule to engage people to take liability for their life, and to make importance in it. It gives a model of living over the impact of condition. The initial stage is portrayed by the indication of shock. Frankl speaks of his entry via train at the notorious Auschwitz, when he and his kindred detainees ' underlying stun and frightfulness rapidly offered a path to the condition known as the "delusion of reprieve", the conviction that they would be spared at last, that things couldn 't be as horrendous as they appeared. Frankl portrays how, not for the last time, he sat tight for destiny to follow through to its logical end as the detainees proceeded remaining before a SS officer who coolly guided them toward the right, which implied they looked physically and
Frankl believes several things, and he shares these theories with his readers. First of all; the basic concept of Logotherapy is that if one finds a purpose or a meaning in their life they can endure anything. He supports this many times over with specific examples. He was forced to dig trenches in freezing cold weather without adequate clothing and shoes. The shoes might be too tight causing pain and blisters, he may have no socks, or the shoes might have holes in them, allowing the ice and snow to get against his skin. He states that he got through these long, painful days by thinking about the beauty of nature or thoughts of his wife. He focused on the unlikely fact that his wife might be alive, giving him the will to live. Other times, while at another camp where he worked as the only doctor caring for 52 sick and dying patients, he himself was on the brink of starvation and typhus and he did not give up. He felt that it was his duty to care for these people, keep them comfortable and give them the best that he could at the time with minimal resources. There might have
"Think about the word "choose." By using this word, Frankl implies that because you choose your actions, you are responsible for them (Morrison, 2011)." Victor Frankl(1905-1997) implied that choice is what defines us as human beings. The choices that we make can either be positive or negative. In the health care setting, this also applies to administrators, physicians, nursing staff, and specialists. The correct choices that we make are based on our values, values that we hold to be true through our connection with God. In addition, Frankl believed that we are special, very special in our individual identity. However, this identity is found through spirituality and happiness. Through the pursuit of happiness, one finds joy and peace. Frankl
The events that happened in World War II are still considerably fresh on the minds of modern times. Especially the concentrations camps that housed the worst of the war’s horror, unbeknownst to most of the world. Few of the prisoners survived, but those who did were able to tell the horrendous stories of what really happened inside the labor camps. One such survivor was Viktor E. Frankl, who not only came out alive but also developed his own school of thought in the field of psychology: logotherapy. This ideology focuses on how humans react in extreme circumstances, such as living in a detrimental environment for extended periods of time. Frankl writes about this in his famous book A Man’s Search for Meaning (2006), which not only describes
In this paper I will be analysing/ reflecting on Viktor Frankl’s Man 's Search for Meaning. In my reflection I will compare the main philosophical message of frankl 's experience and try to compare its meaning to my very own life experience. In order to do this I must give you some personal background while growing up I was born with some challenging complications due to a lack of oxygen at birth I was diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy. The thing about ataxic cerebral palsy is that it has affected my life in many ways some miniscule others immense. I can write an entire book on my childhood / adolescence and some of the many challenges I have faced but that 's neither here
The premise of Frankl’s book is that mankind’s desire for meaning is much stronger than its desire for power or pleasure and that if man can find meaning in life he can survive anything. Frankl introduces this idea [which he calls the theory of logotherapy] throughout his concentration camp experiences in the book’s first section and delves deeper into it in the second section. Referencing Nietzsche, Frankl tells us “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'” (p. 80). The most important thing to be learned from this statement is that no matter what your circumstances are, you can be happy, or at least survive, if you find a meaning or purpose in life. While in the concentration camp Frankl tells us that in order to maintain his desire to have a meaningful life he focused on three main things: suffering, work, and love. Of sacrifice
will experience an abysmal sensation of meaninglessness and emptiness (Frankl Institute). This focuses on the meaning of human existence as well as the search for that meaning.
Existentialism developed in the more extensive feeling to twentieth century rationality that is focused upon the investigation about presence and of the best approach people discover themselves existing or their existence as a whole. Existentialism takes its name from those philosophical topic of 'existence ', this doesn 't involve that there will be homogeneity in the way presence will be on be comprehended. On simpler terms, existentialism will be an logic worried for finding self and the intending from claiming an aggregation through spare will, choice and also personage obligation. Existentialism turned into prominent following those Second World War. In spite of seeing its philosophical viewpoint is little spot complex,