In Frankl's article, he discusses life inside of a Nazi concentration camp during World War Two. In it he argues that there is value in suffering. There is value in suffering because while suffering there is no way to express yourself in a positive way except for loving contemplation. Frankl argues that loving contemplation is the only way to achieve personal fulfillment while suffering.
Along with that idea, Frankl also presents the idea that the only way that one can survive a situation like a Nazi concentration camp is by removing all emotion from your life. He states that complete emotional detachment is the only reasonable way someone could live in Auschwitz. Frankl discusses how apathy plays a major role in the dampening of emotions. In his mind, apathy was a consequence of living in the camps and at the same time survival without the dampening of emotions cause by apathy was impossible.
An over arching idea that Frankl established at the very beginning of this experience was that he would endure his suffering and not take his own life. He believed that honorably taking your pain was another prerequisite for personal fulfillment in the camps.
No comments:
Post a Comment