M4L 2013 Lesson 4
Is life worth living?
© Paul TP Wong, PhD, CPsych
For video segments of previous lectures search
DrMeaningfulLiving on YouTube
The Crisis of Suicide
The Crisis of Terrorism
Overview
• The modern crisis of suicide, violence, & depression
– a meaning crisis
• Viktor Frankl’s unique contributions
• Logotherapy is a spiritual therapy
• The Tragic Triad & Neurotic Triangle
• The Meaning Triangle
• The Three Value Pathways to discovering meaning
Who am I? (Identity)
Where do I fit in? (Belonging)
What makes life worth living?
(Values)
Solomon’s Problem of
Meaninglessness
“Meaningless! Meaningless!...
Utterly meaningless!
Everything is
meaningless.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2, NIV)
Job’s Problem of Suffering
“Why did I not perish at birth,
and die as I came from the womb?”
(Job 3:11, NIV)
The Meaning of Suffering
Viktor Frankl’s Answer
Frankl’s Contribution
• He was the first psychotherapist who had the
insight that we are spiritual beings.
• He restored the human soul and spirit to
psychology.
• A major task of psychotherapy is spiritual care.
• The most effective way to attain healing and
wholeness is through the spiritual path of
discovering meaning.
Spirituality
The Human Capacity for Belief
The entire meaning enterprise is based on the
fundamental belief that we are spiritual
beings in need of meaning and human life has
intrinsic meaning & value.
Meaning vs. Success Mindset
Basic Tenets of Logotherapy
Freedom of Will
Freedom of Will
Cause vs. Reason
The Will to Meaning
• A universal, spiritual yearning
• The desire to be truly human
• An innate motive to serve God and others
(self-transcendence)
• An innate moral responsibility to do what is
right
The Unheard Cry for Meaning
Meaning of Life
• Can be found until the last breath of life
• Can only be found through enduring values
• The ultimate meaning can only be approximated
• The situational meaning can be facilitated by
belief in global meaning
• Meaningful living is comprised of meaningful
moments
The Tragic Triad of
Meaninglessness
The Neurotic Triad of
Meaninglessness
Aggression
The 3 Values of Meaning
Attitudinal
Creative
Experiential
Creative Value
Experiential Value
Attitudinal Value
• A defiant attitude of freedom and
responsibility against all oppressive forces
endows us with human dignity.
• All great achievements are made by
people who dare to take a stand against
all the odds and say, “Here I stand, so help
me God.”
The Defiant Human Spirit