Man's Search For Meaning A Reflection
Man's Search For Meaning A ReflectionPaula GrundySiena UniversityPhilosophy and History of IdeasLDR 601Patricia L. McDonaldOctober 21, 2012Man's Search For Meaning A ReflectionTo accurately analyze human behavior or the behavior of a population, you must assess the environment of the masses as a cause-effect relationship. Viktor E. Frankl’s memoirs are the extreme example of that truth. He exhibited the everyday life of the prisoners of the Nazi Death camps, exposing how diluted the savagery of human survival is when compared to the environment of the creatures. People were stripped of their identities and worldly possessions; they were forced into a society where Darwinism is law and death is as common as breathing. There were so many messages to pull from but certain experiences weighed heavier on my conscious. The primal need of survival was a strong theme throughout this book, often overshadowing one’s morals, values and conscious. The importance of faith and hope is an overpowering message and not just because of the aesthetic appeal of the ideals but because with obstacles like disease, undernourishment, and sleep deprivation, not having anything to look forward to was too dangerous. Frankl emphasized the non-chalant attitude that everyone had towards death…desensitizing the seriousness of it all. He interprets the behaviors of himself and his comrades during his imprisonment. Though behaviors may have been abnormal compared to their traditions they were considered justified when assessing their environment and the reality that the realm of normal went up in smoke like it was from the Crematorium.Survival of the fittest was the only law in the camps…it was the way of life. The camps had higher officers called Campos and just that institution of separation caused turmoil. The major priority for an individual became keeping themselves and their friends alive by any means necessary. The Camp’s selection process of killing the weak and feeble and knowing that the sick and unfit to work would be sent to their deaths had people on edge and wanting to keep themselves and anyone they know from that fate. “All that mattered was that one’s own name and that of one’s friend were crossed off the list of victims, though everyone knew that for each man saved another victim had to be found.” (p.4). At one point the starvation got so bad that cannibalism was turned too as a tool of survival. This apathy about the value of all life made death an all too well known friend. Frankl painted a very vivid but almost surreal picture that even the thoughts of suicide were uncommon. One would assume because of hope that their nightmare would be over but on the contrary it is because death is almost certain so to do his job would be a waste of time and that mass theory is horrifying. The reality that human beings can be turned into cold animals due to a defense mechanism fueled by mental hazing, physical punishment, deprivation and illness is justifiable but no one wants to imagine them slipping into this dark side especially if like Frankl stated, you do not “…preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind….” (p.65). This book exposes another side of humanity. You are left to scrutinize one’s own mental strength…it forces you to look deep and wonder how you would adapt to a barbaric and life threatening change.REFERENCES:Frankil, E. V. (2006). Man’s Search For Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press. ................
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