In a world where we often grapple with the pressures of success, happiness, and fulfillment, Viktor Frankl’s philosophy stands as a beacon of hope and resilience. His ideas, shaped by unimaginable suffering and profound introspection, offer a unique perspective on the human condition and the quest for meaning. In this Mantra101 blog post, we will explore Frankl’s philosophy, and how it came to be during his lifetime.

Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor. Born in 1905, Frankl’s early interest in psychology led him to study medicine, specializing in neurology and psychiatry. However, it was his harrowing experiences during World War II, where he spent years in Nazi concentration camps, that deeply influenced his thinking and gave birth to his most influential work, Man’s Search for Meaning.

Logotherapy

Frankl’s primary contribution to psychology is the development of logotherapy, often referred to as the “third Viennese school of psychotherapy” after Freud’s psychoanalysis and Adler’s individual psychology. The core idea of logotherapy is that the primary driving force in human beings is not pleasure (as Freud suggested) or power (as Adler proposed), but the pursuit of meaning.

Logotherapy is built on three main tenets:

Life Has Meaning Under All Circumstances.

Frankl believed that even in the most dire situations, life holds meaning. This conviction was born out of his own experiences in the concentration camps, where he observed that those who found a purpose, no matter how small, were more likely to survive.

The Will to Meaning.

According to Frankl, our main motivation in life is to find meaning in what we do. This contrasts with Freud’s pleasure principle, where seeking pleasure and avoiding pain are seen as the primary motivators.

Freedom to Find Meaning.

Despite the limitations and suffering we might face, Frankl emphasized that we always have the freedom to choose our attitude toward our circumstances and to find meaning in them. This perspective is empowering, suggesting that even when we cannot change our external environment, we can change ourselves.