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An Existential Analysis of the Human Condition

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The Lıfe-changıng Impact of Vıktor Frankl's Logotherapy

Abstract

Our capacities of thought and choice beset us with many questions. We find that we are evaluating creatures; that we uncannily have a sense of what is right and pleasing, and wrong and horrifying in life. In this chapter, the reader is challenged to consider this reality by way of reflective thought about the prime and fundamental aspects of logotherapy, namely, self-transcendence as the essence of human existence; conscience as a moral compass in evaluating and judging actions or events as either life-enhancing and meaningful or life-destructive and meaningless; Frankl’s concept of the Unconscious God as a deep sense of being accountable before something or Someone other than ourselves; the meaning of meaning as the attitude, choice or action that is required of us in each and every situation of life; entering into meaningful dialogue with life in creatively making our personal contributions to the betterment of the lives of others (the creative values); becoming appreciatively responsive to all that is good, true and beautiful about life (the experiential values); and courageously taking a stand and having the right attitude in the face of the tragic situations we face in life (the attitudinal values). The reader is brought under the strong impression of the truth of Frankl’s statement that what man is, he is not yet, but ought to be and should become.

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Shantall, T. (2020). An Existential Analysis of the Human Condition. In: The Lıfe-changıng Impact of Vıktor Frankl's Logotherapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30770-7_2

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