BY: VIKTOR E FRANKL
A PROMINENT VIENNESE PSYCHIATRIST BEFORE THE WAR, VIKTOR FRANKL WAS
UNIQUELY ABLE TO OBSERVE THE WAY THAT BOTH HE AND OTHERS IN AUSCHWITZ
COPED (OR DIDN’T) WITH THE EXPERIENCE. HE NOTICED THAT IT WAS THE MEN
WHO COMFORTED OTHERS AND WHO GAVE AWAY THEIR LAST PIECE OF BREAD
WHO SURVIVED THE LONGEST – AND WHO OFFERED PROOF THAT EVERYTHING CAN
BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US EXCEPT THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE OUR ATTITUDE IN ANY
GIVEN SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE SORT OF PERSON THE PRISONER BECAME WAS THE RESULT OF AN INNER
DECISION AND NOT OF CAMP INFLUENCES ALONE. ONLY THOSE WHO ALLOWED
THEIR INNER HOLD ON THEIR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL SELVES TO SUBSIDE
EVENTUALLY FELL VICTIM TO THE CAMP’S DEGENERATING INFLUENCE – WHILE
THOSE WHO MADE A VICTORY OF THOSE EXPERIENCES TURNED THEM INTO AN
INNER TRIUMPH. FRANKL CAME TO BELIEVE MAN’S DEEPEST DESIRE IS TO SEARCH
FOR MEANING AND PURPOSE.
THIS OUTSTANDING WORK OFFERS US ALL A WAY TO TRANSCEND SUFFERING AND
FIND SIGNIFICANCE IN THE ART OF LIVING.