Comments on Everything Is Pointless: Frankl's Search for Meaning

Frankl says, "...when his only achievement may con...

2007-04-16T04:10:33.762+01:00

Frankl says, "...when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way — an honorable way — in such a position man can, through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved, achieve fulfillment."

"Loving contemplation of the image he carries" == fantasy. Fantasy will get you through. That's what he's saying. And I don't doubt that works for some people. Most people, even. Not me.

And before Pablo-the-Frankl-apologist gets his panties in a bunch, let me state in no uncertain terms that I have in my hands here---purchased new in 1992---the Fourth Edition of Man's Search for Meaning, and I've read it cover-to-cover at least a few times over the years.

So please don't patronize us with statements to the effect of, "If only you'd READ it!"

Read it I have. And failed to see the value, beyond a poignant (if ultimately vacuous) restatement of, "All you need is love."

His book sold more than twenty million copies worl...

2007-04-13T12:07:58.581+01:00

His book sold more than twenty million copies worldwide, and admittedly I hadn't heard of him (four years ago) until I was browsing at the open book stall at my local mall.

His book isn't just about maintaining a smiling face, he describes many harrowing moments in the concentration camp where many Jewish people competed against one another for survival. If one of them witnessed their fellow being disciplined, they took it on the chin, they couldn't interfere, and many didn't. He says it in his memoir, and isn't afraid of saying what the conctentration camps did, or what their indirect function was.

Thanks for the reference. I too have a similar out...

2007-04-12T09:51:50.478+01:00

Thanks for the reference. I too have a similar outlook and concept of the meaning of Life as Frankl.

I was quite surprised I'd never heard of him, thou...

2007-04-11T14:29:53.187+01:00

I was quite surprised I'd never heard of him, though psychoanalysis is a pretty dirty word in academic psychology, so it's understandable.

I wouldn't get your hopes up for a conversion though Pablo. I think I get the gist of what Frankl is saying and on one level I agree, but I also disagree on others...

I've added him to my 'list of people to read'....

Hi!I´m glad you thought that Frankl´s ideas are wo...

2007-04-10T22:36:19.395+01:00

Hi!

I´m glad you thought that Frankl´s ideas are worth investigating. They definitly are. Please don´t restrict your search to an extract on the intert. I´m sure you are to smart for that. It is just that nothing can be more distant from Frankls ideas, as whole, than a slogan such as ´all you need is love´. He goes much deeper thant that. There are other ways to find meaning in life, not only love. It is something that he poins out too. Suffering, for instance, can be a way to find meaning in some circunstances in life. Or work.

I really wonder what in Frankl´s ideas could be described as ´typical psychoanalisis´. for he and his disciples were, and still are, major critics on many of psychoanalisys central ideas. And he even corresponde with Freud while still a teenager! And met him personally. But his first teacher was Adler.

I´m looking forward to know your thougts about him.

best, Pablo

Frankl has been very influential in my thinking, f...

2007-04-10T06:50:32.124+01:00

Frankl has been very influential in my thinking, for what it's worth.

In some respects he's a typical psychoanalyst (read talks a load of crap), but from time to time he can come up with something really profound.

I can recommend him.