Viktor Frankl- an Overview of Logotherapy
Logotherapy (founder-Dr Viktor E. Frankl-1905-1997)(4500 words)
The term ‘Logotherapy’ can be described as taken from the Greek meaning of ‘logos’ and ‘therapy’. ‘Therapy’ is the treatment which is given to heal a disorder. Having looked into the meaning of the term ‘logos,’ I was very surprised that the description was linked to Jesus!
According to Wikipedia, John’s Gospel identifies the ‘Logos’ as the one through which all things are made, and further to this describes Jesus as being the ‘incarnate Logos’ (incarnate meaning to be embodied in flesh or taking on flesh)(1)
The Greek word ‘logos’ traditionally meant ‘word’, ‘thought’, principle, or speech. Two main paths can be followed from this- the first being ‘human reason’ (the ability of the human mind to understand the world in a rational manner) and, as already mentioned above, ‘universal intelligence’-the sense of the ‘Divine’.(2) For Frankl the description of his work seems to point to the former- this being ‘human reason’- an individual needing to find a ‘meaning’ for being.
In his book ’The will to meaning’(3), Frankl is trying to describe the way psychologists/psychiatrists might try to understand the many facets of a human expressing or finding meaning in the world. He is expressing the different ideas given by psychoanalysis; Adler; and other individuals.
The dimension (he speaks of humans as having many dimensions- and that by trying to embrace these one is able to get a full picture of who they are), of ‘logos’ in the scope of logotherapy, implies ‘meaning’, and also implies ‘spirit’ (as mentioned above). Frankl says this is without any primary religious connotation. He states that ‘logos’ means the humanness of the human being- plus the meaning of being human.(3)
So what I gather from his writings; Frankl desired his ‘logotherapy’ to embrace all of what it means to be human and also the meaning of being human. (my own understanding)
Introducing Dr Viktor Frankl
The term ‘Logotherapy’ can be described as taken from the Greek meaning of ‘logos’ and ‘therapy’. ‘Therapy’ is the treatment which is given to heal a disorder. Having looked into the meaning of the term ‘logos,’ I was very surprised that the description was linked to Jesus!
According to Wikipedia, John’s Gospel identifies the ‘Logos’ as the one through which all things are made, and further to this describes Jesus as being the ‘incarnate Logos’ (incarnate meaning to be embodied in flesh or taking on flesh)(1)
The Greek word ‘logos’ traditionally meant ‘word’, ‘thought’, principle, or speech. Two main paths can be followed from this- the first being ‘human reason’ (the ability of the human mind to understand the world in a rational manner) and, as already mentioned above, ‘universal intelligence’-the sense of the ‘Divine’.(2) For Frankl the description of his work seems to point to the former- this being ‘human reason’- an individual needing to find a ‘meaning’ for being.
In his book ’The will to meaning’(3), Frankl is trying to describe the way psychologists/psychiatrists might try to understand the many facets of a human expressing or finding meaning in the world. He is expressing the different ideas given by psychoanalysis; Adler; and other individuals.
The dimension (he speaks of humans as having many dimensions- and that by trying to embrace these one is able to get a full picture of who they are), of ‘logos’ in the scope of logotherapy, implies ‘meaning’, and also implies ‘spirit’ (as mentioned above). Frankl says this is without any primary religious connotation. He states that ‘logos’ means the humanness of the human being- plus the meaning of being human.(3)
So what I gather from his writings; Frankl desired his ‘logotherapy’ to embrace all of what it means to be human and also the meaning of being human. (my own understanding)
Introducing Dr Viktor Frankl