Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

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Man's search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl




Book Name: Man's search for meaning

Author: Viktor E Frankl
Genre: Biography 
(Psychology)
Pages:154


The book is divided into two parts and a postscript:

Part One:

a)Experiences in concentration Camp:

In this part author has told the inside story of a concentration camp. The three phases of the prisoner's mental reaction's to camp life:

a) SHOCK(period following his admission in the concentration camp):The brutality, harshness and the severity of the camp life and the constant danger of death looming over them daily and hourly and the closeness of the deaths suffered by the inmates lead them to the

b) EMOTIONAL DEATH(period when prisoner is well rooted in the concentration camp routine) where they no longer avert their eyes from seeing the punishment of the inmates, the phase where the prisoner became insensitive to the daily and hourly beatings.

c)THE LIBERATION OF PRISONERS which reveals the danger of moral deformity, bitterness and disillusionment from the instant release of MENTAL PRESSURES. "Some prisoners thought they could use their freedom immorally and ruthlessly so the only thing that changed for them was that; they were oppressed before and now they are oppressors"


Part Two:

Logo-therapy in a nutshell:

 It is a more direct explanation of the doctrines of logo-therapy. Logo-therapy neither focuses on the past nor urges the individual to examine his own thoughts, feelings and ideas, but rather it focuses on the future, the meaning to be fulfilled by the patient in his/her future.

In this part the author argue and justifies the primary principle of logo-therapy and gives necessary evidence.

Quotes/Lessons:-

"A man who has nothing left except his ridiculously ruined life can still know the joy."

"Being grateful for the smallest of the things"

"Let the fate decide its course"

"Human life, under any circumstances never ceases to have a meaning"

"Under the influence of inhumane conditions, human dignity can still be retained"

"Spirituality makes life meaningful and purposeful"

"Giving up and losing faith in future is dangerous to the point of death"

"It doesn't matter what we expect from life, but rather what life expects from us"

"Meaning of life differs from man to man and moment to moment"

"Man is more than his biological, psychological and sociological conditions"


POSTSCRIPT:

Optimism in the face of tragedy:- how is it possible to say "yes" to life in PAIN,GUILT AND DEATH?

In this part the author pictures HAPPINESS which cannot be achieved as a state rather it comes as a result of having reason/meaning in life. Once an individual finds out his meaning in life he not only becomes happy but also gets the tool to confront suffering.

Furthermore, he mentions that DEPRESSION,AGRESSION AND ADDICTION are also due to meaninglessness and emptiness in life.

"If in the the cases of suicide and depression, meaninglessness may not be the cause, it may well be that an individuals decision to take his life would have been suppressed by having some purpose worth living for."

Author claims that pain is inevitable in the life so, rather complaning against the fate one should turn it into human achievement and accomplishment by rising above himself.

Rising above guilt, by changing oneself for the better.

Determining from life's transitori-ness (inevitability of dying) an incentive to take responsible action.

Wanna Read!

 

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