From an Existential Vacuum to a Tragic Optimism: The Search for Meaning and the Presence of God in Modern Literature employs a new theoretical approach to critical analysis: Victor Frankl’s logotherapy (from the Greek “logos” for word or reason and often related to divine wisdom), a unique form of existentialism. On the basis of his observations of the power of human endurance and transcendence – the discovery of meaning even in the midst of harrowing circumstances – Frankl diagnoses the malaise of the current age as an “existential vacuum,” a sense of meaninglessness. He suggests that a panacea for this malaise may be found in creativity, love, and moral choice – even when faced with suffering or death. He affirms that human beings may transcend this vacuum, discover meaning – or even ultimate meaning to be found in Ultimate Being, or God – and live with a sense of “tragic optimism.” This book observes both the current age’s “existential vacuum” – a malaise of emptiness and meaninglessness – and its longing for meaning and God as reflected in three genres: poetry, novel, and fantasy. Part I, “Reflections of God in the Poetic Vision,” addresses “tragic optimism” – hope when there seems to be no reason for hope – in poems by William Butler Yeats, T. S. Eliot, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Gerard Manley Hopkins. Part II, “American Angst: Emptiness and Possibility in John Steinbeck’s Major Novels,” presents a study of Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and The Winter of Our Discontent – novels that together form a uniquely American epic trilogy. Together these novels tell the story of a nation’s avarice, corruption, and betrayal offset by magnanimity, heroism, and hospitality. Set against the backdrop of Frankl’s ways of finding meaning and fulfillment – all obliquely implying the felt presence of God – the characters are representative Every Americans, in whose lives are reflected a nation’s worst vices and best hopes. Part III, “A Tragic Optimism: The Triumph of Good in the Fantasy Worlds of Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling,” defines fantasy and science fiction as mirrors with which to view reality. J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength, and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series are considered in the light of Frankl’s logotherapy – providing paths to meaning and the ultimate meaning to be found in God. In a postmodern, fragmented age, these works affirm a continuing vision of God (often through His felt absence) and, also, a most human yearning for meaning even when there seems to be none – providing, as Frankl maintains, “a tragic optimism.”

From an Existential Vacuum to a Tragic Optimism: The Search for Meaning and the Presence of God in Modern Literature employs a new theoretical approach to critical analysis: Victor Franklâ (TM)s logotherapy (from the Greek â oelogosâ for word or reason and often related to divine wisdom), a unique form of existentialism. On the basis of his observations of the power of human endurance and transcendence â " the discovery of meaning even in the midst of harrowing circumstances â " Frankl diagnoses the malaise of the current age as an â oeexistential vacuum, â a sense of meaninglessness. He suggests that a panacea for this malaise may be found in creativity, love, and moral choice â " even when faced with suffering or death. He affirms that human beings may transcend this vacuum, discover meaning â " or even ultimate meaning to be found in Ultimate Being, or God â " and live with a sense of â oetragic optimism.â This book observes both the current ageâ (TM)s â oeexistential vacuumâ â " a malaise of emptiness and meaninglessness â " and its longing for meaning and God as reflected in three genres: poetry, novel, and fantasy. Part I, â oeReflections of God in the Poetic Vision, â addresses â oetragic optimismâ â " hope when there seems to be no reason for hope â " in poems by William Butler Yeats, T. S. Eliot, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Gerard Manley Hopkins. Part II, â oeAmerican Angst: Emptiness and Possibility in John Steinbeckâ (TM)s Major Novels, â presents a study of Steinbeckâ (TM)s The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and The Winter of Our Discontent â " novels that together form a uniquely American epic trilogy. Together these novels tell the story of a nationâ (TM)s avarice, corruption, and betrayal offset by magnanimity, heroism, and hospitality. Set against the backdrop of Franklâ (TM)s ways of finding meaning and fulfillment â " all obliquely implying the felt presence of God â " the characters are representative Every Americans, in whose lives are reflected a nationâ (TM)s worst vices and best hopes. Part III, â oeA Tragic Optimism: The Triumph of Good in the Fantasy Worlds of Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling, â defines fantasy and science fiction as mirrors with which to view reality. J. R. R. Tolkienâ (TM)s The Lord of the Rings, C. S. Lewisâ (TM)s That Hideous Strength, and J. K. Rowlingâ (TM)s Harry Potter series are considered in the light of Franklâ (TM)s logotherapy â " providing paths to meaning and the ultimate meaning to be found in God. In a postmodern, fragmented age, these works affirm a continuing vision of God (often through His felt absence) and, also, a most human yearning for meaning even when there seems to be none â " providing, as Frankl maintains, â oea tragic optimism.â

From the author of Man's Search for Meaning, one of the most influential works of psychiatric literature since Freud. Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl is known as the founder of logotherapy, a mode of psychotherapy based on man's motivation to search for meaning in his life. The author discusses his ideas in the context of other prominent psychotherapies and describes the techniques he uses with his patients to combat the "existential vacuum." Originally published in 1969 and compiling Frankl's speeches on logotherapy, The Will to Meaning is regarded as a seminal work of meaning-centered therapy. This new and carefully re-edited version is the first since 1988.

Find hope even in these dark times with this rediscovered masterpiece, a companion to his international bestseller Man’s Search for Meaning. Eleven months after he was liberated from the Nazi concentration camps, Viktor E. Frankl held a series of public lectures in Vienna. The psychiatrist, who would soon become world famous, explained his central thoughts on meaning, resilience, and the importance of embracing life even in the face of great adversity. Published here for the very first time in English, Frankl’s words resonate as strongly today—as the world faces a coronavirus pandemic, social isolation, and great economic uncertainty—as they did in 1946. He offers an insightful exploration of the maxim “Live as if you were living for the second time,” and he unfolds his basic conviction that every crisis contains opportunity. Despite the unspeakable horrors of the camps, Frankl learned from the strength of his fellow inmates that it is always possible to “say yes to life”—a profound and timeless lesson for us all.

Defending the superiority of evidence-based reasoning over religious faith and philosophical thought experiments, Thagard argues that minds are brains and that reality is what science can discover. Brains come to know reality through a combination of perception and reasoning. Just as important, our brains evaluate aspects of reality through emotions that can produce both good and bad decisions. Our cognitive and emotional abilities allow us to understand reality, decide effectively, act morally, and pursue the vital needs of love, work, and play. Wisdom consists of knowing what matters, why it matters, and how to achieve it."--Jacket.

Over 16 million copies sold worldwide 'Every human being should read this book' Simon Sinek One of the outstanding classics to emerge from the Holocaust, Man's Search for Meaning is Viktor Frankl's story of his struggle for survival in Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Today, this remarkable tribute to hope offers us an avenue to finding greater meaning and purpose in our own lives.

This landmark volume introduces the new series of proceedings from the Viktor Frankl Institute, dedicated to preserving the past, disseminating the present, and anticipating the future of Franklian existential psychology and psychotherapy, i.e. logotherapy and existentialanalysis . Wide-ranging contents keep readers abreast of current ideas, findings, and developments in the field while also presenting rarely-seen selections from Frankl’s work. Established contributors report on new applications of existential therapies in specific (OCD, cancer, end-of-life issues) and universal (the search for meaning) contexts as well as intriguing possibilities for opening up dialogue with other schools of psychology. And this initial offering establishes the tenor of the series by presenting varied materials across the field, including: Archival and unpublished articles and lectures by Frankl. Peer-reviewed studies on logotherapy process, measures, and research. New case studies using logotherapy and existential analysis in diverse settings. Papers advocating cross-disciplinary collaboration. Philosophical applications of existential psychology. Critical reviews of logotherapy-related books. Volume 1 of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis will attract a wide audience, including psychologists (clinical, social, personality, positive), psychotherapists of different schools, psychiatrists in private practice, and researchers in these fields. Practitioners in counseling, pastoral psychology, coaching, and medical care will also welcome this new source of ideas and inspiration.