Friday, February 11, 2011

Viktor E. Frankl Mans search for meaning

Today for my ethics class I had to read some Frankl and answer a question after.  I responded to question number 4.  You can check out the short writing from him below. This is what I had to say...
Victor E!
4.  The question of if there is a difference between saying, “life is meaningless”, and “life is meaningful but, in a way I cannot understand” is a question that I too have dealt with a lot.  People sometimes interpret existentialism as saying that life is in fact meaningless.  I too felt like this when I first started reading philosophy and existentialism.  But after reflecting on such things like Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre is took these seemingly depressing themes and applied them to my own everyday existence.  Through this I have learned that life is meaningful, but I cannot understand how so.   The difference between the two is that the first idea radiates themes of discontent, selfishness, and negative energy.  The second idea gives off themes of wonderment, and overall positive energy.  It makes me want to keep learning, and searching to find at least some little bit of those meanings.  Life feels very meaningful to me, every aspect of it seems amazing. 
            Through this positive energy, search for knowledge and such, I come upon thoughts about animals, particles, and everything.  We are all connected, how does this question apply to gaia?  




9 comments:

  1. wow interesting stuff, I think meaning is hard to define, as everyone has their own definition of what is/what is not useful.

    Interesting read.

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  2. yes, i recommend this book to anyone. excellent read. new follower

    http://underratedfilms.blogspot.com/

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  3. its all about interpreting the world the way you see fit. good post

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  4. This is an amazing book. I have read a couple of times. It has been several years, I need to re-read.

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  5. good answer, let us know how it goes

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  6. I've asked myself the same questions at one point or another. In my short 25 years of life, I've come to a conclusion that's absolutely true for myself. It's that the meaning of life is to live. Most men on Earth believe that a destination, an "end-game" is an ultimate goal. With life however, the journey is far more important, for it is all we have.

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  7. At my school, ethics is only a very tiny topic. I would appreciate a bigger interest in it!

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