Lecture
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neuropsychiatrist and philosopher, developed a theory of the meaning of life that is central to his psychotherapeutic approach known as logotherapy. In Frankl's interpretation, meaning is of key importance for understanding psychology and human well-being. Here are the characteristics of meaning in his interpretation:
Meaning as a fundamental need: Frankl believed that a person instinctively strives to find meaning in life, and that this is one of the fundamental needs of human nature. He held that the absence of meaning can lead to psychological problems and mental suffering.
Individual meaning: Frankl argued that the meaning of life is an individual construct that each person creates for himself. Meaning can differ from person to person and can depend on their beliefs, values, and life experience.
Three sources of meaning: Frankl identified three main sources of meaning in life:
Meaning and suffering: Frankl believed that even in the most difficult and suffering-laden situations a person can find meaning, which helps him overcome the suffering. He described this process as "the acceptance of suffering".
Freedom of choice: Frankl argued that even in the most restricted conditions, when a person cannot change external circumstances, he always has freedom of choice with respect to his reaction to those circumstances. This means that a person can choose the way of finding meaning and coping with the situation.
The purpose of life: An important part of the meaning of life, according to Frankl, is the search for one's own life purpose or calling. This purpose can serve as a guiding star that orients a person in life.
Personal responsibility: Frankl attached great importance to personal responsibility for the search for and creation of meaning in life. He argued that every person bears responsibility for his decisions and actions.
Let us characterize the concept of “meaning” as it is understood and interpreted by V. Frankl.
Meaning is relative insofar as it relates to a specific person, involved in a particular situation.
Accessibility. V. Frankl asserts that meaning is accessible to every person regardless of sex, age, intelligence, education, character,
environment, or religiosity.
The process of finding meaning. Finding meaning is a matter not of cognition but of calling. It is not the person who poses the question of the meaning of his life, but
life that poses this question before him, and the person must answer it daily, not with words but with actions.
The degree of objectivity of meaning. Meaning is not subjective, in the sense that a person does not invent it, but finds it in the world. That is precisely why
meaning presents itself to a person as an imperative demanding to be realized. The situatedness of meaning. Every situation carries its own meaning,
different for different people, but for each person it is the one and only true meaning. This meaning changes not only from person to person, but also from situation
to situation.
The localization of meaning. In the psychological structure of the personality V. Frankl identifies a special “noetic” dimension in which
meanings are localized. This dimension cannot be reduced to the dimensions of a person's biological and psychological existence.
Explanation. Meaningful reality cannot be explained through psychological, still less biological, mechanisms and cannot
be studied by traditional psychological methods. Responsibility. To find meaning is only half the task; one must still
carry it out. A person bears responsibility for realizing the unique meaning of his life
Thus, V. Frankl asserts the uniqueness and irreplaceability of
the meaning of life for every person, which is not invented, not created
by the individual himself, but must be sought and found, with responsibility borne for
its realization.
Meaning, in Viktor Frankl's interpretation, is a key element of his theory and psychotherapeutic practice. He believed that finding meaning and values in life helps a person overcome suffering, attain psychological well-being, and live a more conscious and fulfilled life.
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