Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl: Time slot A

Join us for a discussion of Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

Synopsis:

• Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theory-known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")-holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful.

This is the first time slot available for discussion of this book, the other being Wednesday September 24th at 6:00pm, at the Central Library. Please sign up for one or the other, and please update your RSVP in a timely manner if your plans change.

Discussion Questions (subject to revision):

• Frankl argues that survival often depended on finding a purpose. What does this suggest about the human need for meaning in extreme situations?
• He writes that suffering can be given meaning if it is faced with dignity. Do you think this is possible, or is it an ideal that few can reach?
• Frankl claims that happiness cannot be pursued directly, but arises as a byproduct of meaning. How persuasive do you find this view?
• Even when stripped of freedom, Frankl emphasizes the freedom to choose one’s attitude. How real is this freedom in practice?
• What do you see as the most enduring source of meaning in your own life—work, love, faith, or something else?

Whether you’ve read the whole book or just want to explore some of its central ideas, you’re welcome to join!

Thanks to Spartacus Books for generously opening up their space for us! If you're able, please support them with a small donation (suggested: $2), or with a purchase if one of their titles catches your fancy.