example that life holds a potential meaning under any condition, even

the most miserable ones. Viktor Frankl

In his book Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl clearly illustrates his philosophies regarding life and his therapeutic doctrine of logotherapy. The first half of the book takes place in concentration camps throughout Europe, including the legendary Auschwitz. In his account of the camps, Frankl describes the nature of man when subjected to immense suffering. He gives large contrasts of prisoners giving in to the suffering and how they rise above it. The latter part of the book deals with Frankl’s logotherapy, which gained him international fame, and how it can be applied to help troubled people. He used his observations in the concentration camps to conclude his theories. Frankl’s book outlined his philosophies about man, particularly his search for meaning.

Logotherapy can be solely attributed to Viktor Frankl. It is a new approach to psychotherapy. “Logotherapy is different from psychotherapy, in the sense that psychotherapy is stating things that are disagreeable, whereas logotherapy is listening to things that are disagreeable”

Viktor Frankl’s theories, as expressed in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, appear to be very logical and practical. I completely agree with his theories as I have noticed them before reading the book. He says, “... the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour.” (p 131). This statement is one of the many that I agree with. People’s goals change as circumstances change, and therefore the meaning to their lives must change just as often. I also agree that man has a potential for greatness and the ability to overcome close to anything. Frankl states, “…I also bear witness to the unexpected extent to which man is capable of defying and braving even the worst condition conceivable.” (p 153). In his book, Frankl displays man’s resilience, even in the horrendous the Nazi death camps. Frankl’s view regarding the elderly as compared to youth is also very true. He says that the elderly have no reason to envy the young because the young have possibilities in their future while the elderly have realities in their past (p 144). I agree with this because if one is proud of the life they led, they have experience instead of a future, and experience is often more valuable then opportunity. With experience one already knows, while with a future one is just blindly proceeding in unfamiliar territory. Also, Frankl makes comments regarding love. He feels that love is primary to sex. He says, “se

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