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  • Essay / The authenticity of man in the search for meaning through the logotherapy of Viktor Frankl

    Table of contentsContext of the studyStatement of the problemSignificance of the studyTheoretical frameworkMethodologyThe importance of man's lifeMode of active enjoyment - CreateMode of passive enjoyment - LoveThe meaning of sufferingUnrestrained choice the concept of OpportunityFreedom to discover meaningAuthenticity of manWill for meaningConclusionBibliographyContext of the studyViktor Frankl's most popular book, Man's Search for Meaning, is one of the resources allowing us to understand his life and work. The book details Frankl's experiences in the concentration camps. This book by Frankl which has been translated into many different languages ​​and sold over millions of copies worldwide (1997). In Man's Search for Meaning, Frankl details not only the experiences, but also the conditions in which his basic philosophy was born, with a stronger conviction that life has meaning in all circumstances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Problem Statement This article aims to provide a substantial account of man's authenticity in the process of reclaiming the entirety of the human condition in search of meaning. . An existential crisis of search for meaning despite the most difficult living conditions. A crisis that can occur to an individual. A crisis that sometimes pushes a person to give up and commit scandalous acts that destroy their dignity in life. Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy greatly helps the person who, in their condition, is confronted and reoriented towards the meaning of life. Thus, in order to discuss and support the researcher's assertion, the researcher will develop the authenticity of man in his search for meaning by addressing the following questions: ; (1) What are the essential elements of life that make life worth living and meaningful? Is it strong enough for man to commit to being goal oriented? (2) So, does man's existence have meaning? How to find meaning in life despite difficulties and suffering? (3) Finally, what is the meaning of life or the ultimate meaning of life? Significance of the Study The study of Viktor Frankl's concept of search for meaning conveys a vision of the authenticity of man in his desire for meaning through his daily actions and beliefs. which greatly determine the meaning of one's life. Also, to highlight the three ways in which an individual can discover meaning, as Frankl interprets it, that man has the choice to act even in such difficult conditions. Thus, the researcher's contribution in this article is the exploration of the authenticity of man in his search for meaning which led him to search for the ultimate meaning of life and which would be the concept of God. This article is relevant because Frankl's concept, “Man's Search for Meaning,” has an impact in guiding the entire human condition in the discovery of meaning. He introduces in his own way into his logotherapy that man must be confronted and reoriented towards the meaning of life. Theoretical Framework This article focuses primarily on Viktor Frankl's notion of the discovery of meaning in the human condition. Thus, this article explores important ideas and key points mentioned only in the following books that are related to the topic: Man's Search for Meaning, Principles of Finding Meaning in Life and Work, and Man's Search for Meaning the man of ultimate meaning.MethodologyTo elaborate on the subject, the researcher will describe the procedure used in this article. This will also include a discussion of how the researcher explores the topic and how theyis analyzed and validated. Philosopher and doctor, Viktor Frankl is the one who introduced his own philosophy of logotherapy. He made the discovery of logotherapy which contributes greatly to helping the person who, in his state, is confronted and reoriented towards the meaning of life, especially those who experience a feeling of absurdity in life. First, this article will explore the three ways to discover the meaning of life. A meaning that can be found either actively or passively in the enjoyment of life. An active way of enjoying, which manifests itself in one's work and one's actions. The passive way of enjoying that arises when meeting someone or something. Secondly, the researcher will emphasize that Viktor Frankl emphasizes his philosophy on logotherapy in which it is relevant in today's generation where the human condition of being weighed down by personal problems and family compared to a concentration camp. Finally, the researcher will aim to give a simple but substantial explanation and a deep impression to the reader by connecting each point of the said theme of the authenticity of man in the process of claiming the entirety of the human condition in search of meaning . Each chapter will conclude with points for reflection to highlight connections in the context of discerning meaning that aim to connect the individual chapters, and provide a list of relevant sources in the bibliography. The Significance of Human Life The meaning of human life is the vitality or fuel that drives us to achieve our maximum capacity as individuals, in our personal and functional lives. Meaning may not be constantly accessible to our human discernment and perception, for the reason that we are limited individuals. But it is precisely this limit which constitutes for us a test which must be overcome simply with an unlimited desire to discover meaning through daily life. [5: Alex Pattakos, Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering the Meaning of Life and Work, Second Revised and Updated Edition. Human beings are not a life form that simply seeks pleasure or power but a life form that continually evolves and seeks meaning in life. In fact, individuals are content with the quest for pleasure and power even as they fail to find meaning in life. The real existence of an authentic life attracts us with its clarity and vividness. Yet man cannot ask himself whether such a life is too difficult to hope for. The essential inspiration of man is the will to meaning. The uniqueness that recognizes each person and gives importance to their reality has an orientation on innovative work as much as on human love. Although the preciousness of man's life is clear to us, there are three different ways to discover its meaning. in the precious life of man. According to Viktor Frankl, one can give meaning to life: by working or performing an action, by experiencing and loving something or someone, and by facing inevitable suffering as a challenge in life. To support the authenticity of man in the process of reclaiming the entire human condition in search of meaning, let us explore the first two ways of discovering meaning in man's life; create and love, according to Frankl's method. Active Mode of Enjoyment - Creating The primary method of discovering meaning is to adopt an active lifestyle in which an individual performs a work or performs an act. An active life serves to give man the opportunity to recognize his esteem in innovative work. Every individual has a conditionexceptional and everyone has a unique purpose in life. In this way, Viktor Frankl does not believe that it is possible to answer in general terms the meaning of life, because the importance of life varies from man to man, from day to day. another and from one hour to the next. Certainly, there is an open door, which anticipates through everyday life. An open door that offers an opportunity that decides one's destiny in life. Man can discover meaning in things that really interest him. He can discover meaning in being excellent at his particular job. The true meaning of discovering the meaning of life is to dwell on creation rather than putting oneself in a box where there is no room for improvement. Frank called this constitutive characteristic of man “the self-transcendence of human existence”, through work or service. This means that man, through the completion of his work and the deeds he performs, always points towards the idea of ​​directing him towards someone or something that leads him to excel in what he do. In Frankl's experiences in the concentration camp where his fellow inmates strive to work hard, despite the harsh conditions, to please the guard or in exchange for something to eat. A driving force that moved man to devote his entire capacity to someone or something. Man must live in every possible way in accordance with his interest and this can help him discover meaning. For example, if man loves to create, he will always do his best to achieve excellence, which directs his work towards meaning. A teacher who loves to educate his own student by teaching the best method possible. An actor who loves acting will always do his best to please his audience. In this way, everyone can discover meaning at their own pace, doing their particular job well. By accomplishing and achieving something that takes a lot of effort and time, it is worth it and has meaning and can truly be a treasure. Passive Path to Pleasure – Loving The second method to discover meaning is to use the passive path to pleasure. It is called the passive way of enjoying because it is a latent way of expressing oneself. It's there like a wind that we know exists but apparently we don't see it. This method is not an active type, rather it is a type of surrender and surrender for love to transcend. It gives an individual the opportunity to obtain satisfaction by encountering excellence in beauty, art or nature. This suggests that it occurs when experiencing a person or thing that changes the way one sees reality. From now on you are alive, it is mind-blowing that man can somehow change the way he is able to see, that is, by encountering the extraordinary beauty, wonder and mystery of life. A person may be the kind of individual who can discover meaning in life simply by lying in bed or simply by sitting under a big tree all day and getting a load out of it. Frankl suggests that man can discover meaning in this type of enjoyment at a distance. The essence of this method is about love. About love, Frankl states that love is the best way to grasp another individual at the deepest level of their identity. In Frankl's experience in the concentration camp, he describes how he was consoled in his struggle by imagining his beloved wife. He found it important to remember his love. It is then that at the very moment one constantly remembers the latent love towards one's beloved, one can understand and find meaning in one's life. It was not only the desire to see her that kept Frankl alive, but also the memory, which gave him a cherished perspectiveas he thought about her. He writes that the memory of holding that love before his eyes was enough, whether or not he realized his wife was dead. Again, this meaning of life lies in a method of seeing or worshiping, not in actually doing or acting anything. Let all expectation of seeing one's partner be gone, seeing through the eyes of affection is enough, so that it can be considered a wonderful meaning in life. Even if that memory is at some point destroyed, he can now hold it in his mind and return to an approach of seeing that it is love. Even if a person had led a narrow-minded life. In the end, he will enjoy the experience he is having now. Even if he has no one to converse with outside of a book. However, as he chats with the book, he encounters something unimaginable. By having a book as a companion, he encounters meaning. The book can have meaning for man and find life in it. It is difficult to understand, but one can discover meaning in life in an inexpressible and beautiful way to see who can rise above personal responsibility. That is to say, discovering the meaning of the most remarkable adoration, seeing reality with love. Human affection occurs in many ways. Likewise, contrary to the nature of the individual's personal and professional life, we have the impression of being linked to these human affections, even of being their immediate consequence. Individuals who are generally agreed to live and work with meaning as an essential source of human affection appear to be more passionate, engaged, and resilient than those who live and work without any sense of hope or meaning. Again, as long as the individual does not give in and lose hope, meaning can be discovered in a latent method, in an experience of love. A love that transcends the individual because of the sweetness, the emptiness and the loss of self which allowed man to give rise to the experience of love within himself. The main concern is a method of being and seeing which establishes another importance and meaning of life and which, in this sense, is generally linked to the most remarkable form of worship, love. The meaning of sufferingFrom the perspective of the probability of discovering meaning in suffering, the meaning of life is authentic. This real meaning is nevertheless accompanied by a clear value of each individual. This is what merits the lasting character of the nobility of the human person. Sometimes, the seriousness of the trials or difficulties that the individual faces pushes man to identify the meaning of life's moments. When there is meaning in life, then there is also meaning in suffering. A meaning that will incredibly transcend the nature of man. Suffering is always at man's side, because without suffering, life would have no color. Suffering is the companion of enjoyment. This does not mean that man must create suffering, but rather how an individual manages to deal with inevitable suffering. A feeling of insignificance or insignificance causes suffering. The feeling of despair that has pushed the human person to no longer live under any conditions of life. If suffering were avoidable, no individual would ultimately want to suffer from it in their life. However, in reality, suffering is inevitable, but man can choose to change his mindset to discover the meaning of life and give it meaning. When we are never again ready to change a human condition, we are tested to change ourselves, which bears a striking similarity to any individual who thought he had nothing more to expect from the human condition. life. There are individuals who see life asmeaningless and would continue to see it as meaningless unless some sort of miracle happened along the way. Like the experience of the prisoner in the concentration camp, which according to Frankl, it is not the physical pain that hurts the most, but the mental agony caused by the injustice, the absurdity of it all. Individuals who suffer, consider suffering. like a wall that cannot be overcome. An opponent who cannot be outdone. Ironically, abandoning the search for meaning in life is the only option they see. On the contrary, some people see suffering as an opportunity rather than a problem to be solved. An opponent that must be surpassed whatever the risk. Because these individuals perceive things in a different way, where the quest for meaning in life is the primary source of their human condition. Thus, man can understand that he can change the way he sees and responds to his new uncomfortable conditions, and transform it into a new type of achievement and success. Man must always remember that we can also discover meaning in life when faced with a miserable situation, when faced with a destiny that cannot be changed. For what matters most at that moment, it is at a given moment that the individual will manage the suffering that happens to him and transform it into his own strength. A strength that will lead him to accomplishment and victory. A victory that even he himself cannot understand until he finds value and meaning in it. The way man deals with and recognizes inevitable suffering gives an adequate chance to add understanding and significance to life. An individual can remain courageous, honorable and selfless even in the most outrageous and harsh conditions. In the unpleasant battle to protect himself, an individual may neglect his human pride and become more human than animal. Herein lies the possibility for a man to use or forgo the chances of acquiring the ethical qualities which a difficult condition may cost him, whether he deserves his suffering or not. In case men are troubled due to unavoidable reasons, one should stay away from those people who need to realize themselves or try to feel hopeless about being unhappy. It is sometimes wonderful and opportune to be troubled, and man can in any case find meaning in it in his daily life. Discovering the meaning of suffering is more important than pleasure and happiness. When an individual discovers meaning in suffering, he enters into a state of being that rises above pleasure and bliss. Unbridled choice, the concept of opportunity Frankl expresses that "what was ultimately in charge of the condition of the inmate's internal identity was less the mental mind." causes, but rather the consequence of a free choice. He believes that man generally has a certain level of opportunity and that he can use this opportunity to find meaning in life. How about studying some of the recorded occasions to better understand its concept of opportunity. In his book “Mans Search for Meaning,” Frankl describes his terrible encounters in the death camp. It depicts inmates called Capos who were eager to do anything for power and survival. The experience is like survival of the fittest, defeating his fellow Capos more than the guards. Frankl states: “Only those prisoners could remain alive who, after a long journey from camp to camp, had lost all scruples in their struggle for presence; they were created to use all means, lawful and otherwise, even the harshest power, burglary and betrayal of their companions, in order to spare themselves. The prisoner's inner self was not so much psychological causes as the result of a decision..5.2.118.