Man's Search for Meaning

What does real extermination diminish?

hope, memory, humanity

How were Capos picked?

people who could follow Nazi orders and were tough, harsh, and carried out cruel procedures; treated prisoners worse than the SS

What was Frankl’s thesis?

describe life of an average prisoner objectively without his own experience mixed in

What was Frankl’s main job in the concentration camp?

laid/dug railway tracks

What are the 3 phases of a prisoner’s mental state?

period following admission, period well entrenched in the camp, period following release and liberation

What is the delusion of reprieve?

prisoner may be saved at the last minute and the last moments wouldn’t be so bad

Why did the prisoner in charge of Frankl’s hut threaten to hang any prisoner?

he was senior inhabitant and legally could; if one prisoner was found with contraband Nazis would punish random group; wanted to prevent additional death from stupidity

What actions destroyed the illusions of the prisoners?

removal of clothes, lack of toothbrushes, confiscation of possessions, vitamin deficiencies, shaving of hair, sleeping in close quarters, shortening of jackboots, whippings

What were the 3 causes of suicidal ideation?

constant danger of death, hopelessness, and closeness of deaths`

Why did prisoners in phase one not fear death?

felt lucky to have survived first round of selection; gas chambers saved people from committing suicide

What emotions die in phase 2?

longing, disgust, horror, pity, hope

What is the purpose of a prisoner’s apathy?

protective shell from the violence going on around them

How did Frankl earn favor of a Capo?

listening to his problems and offering advice

What rewards did Frankl get by earning the Capo’s favor?

walked in front and got more food; worked for less time, got more food, more stress, no family news, threatened by death

Why was food talk dangerous?

the false illusion hurts long-term

What were the 2 schools of thought regarding bread rationing?

eat immediately or space it out

What did Frankl do with his bread?

divided it up for momentary relief and comfort

What is love?

act of the will and willing the good of the beloved

How do we achieve salvation?

through and in love

How can you still know bliss?

through contemplation of the beloved

What is love’s deepest meaning in?

inner self and spiritual being

How did Frankl meaning in the final protest against hopelessness?

light from a farmhouse amidst the gray sky and a bird

What did prisoners do for fun?

cabaret

What is the art of living?

way of finding light among darkness and finding meaning in suffering

What small mercies did prisoners get?

air raid and delousing time

Why doesn’t Frankl judge others?

he would have probably done the same in their situation

How does Frankl find meaning?

being a doctor and serving the oppressed

How did people descend to animal level?

viewing themselves as part of the herd

What breaks out in the camp?

cannibalism

Why didn’t Frankl escape the first time?

technical difficulties

How was Frankl finally liberated?

the Red Cross

Why did Frankl find himself not liberated?

he wasn’t taken on the last truck and had to stay in camp — became Soviet prisoner

What were factors of apathy?

hunger, lack of sleep and hygiene, no caffeine or nicotine, inferiority complex between prisoners and guards and prisoners/Capos

What is the only freedom prisoners had left?

how they would respond to their suffering

How did people become who they are?

inner decision of how they’d respond to suffering

What makes life meaningful?

spiritual freedom and the way you bear suffering

Why does the woman die cheerfully?

spiritual gain from talking to a tree

What are the outward signs of provisional existence?

giving up, all hope goes to controlled freedom "(I need to be released by ____ day")

What is the antidote to lifelessness?

seeing spiritual growth

What are the 3 principles of lifelessness?

confinement/cut connection, provisional existence that isn’t transitory, perspective (space, time, perspective)

What were the opportunities for spiritual growth?

freedom of attitude; find something out of yourself and recognize life’s demands of you

How was victory made of a prisoner?

finding purpose out of yourself that the soul and mind can cling to

How did Frankl get rid of camp influences?

giving prisoners a future and goal; envisioning life beyond the camp as hope for the future, not going back to old life

What happened to prisoners who lost hope?

lost physical immunity; many died around holidays because they weren’t home

What is the Nietzsche idea of will to suffering?

he who has a why can bear almost any how

How should people respond to despair?

focusing on what life expects of us

What does life expect from us?

carrying our cross willingly, taking responsibility of solving issues of suffering, right action/conduct

What should we do once the meaning of suffering has been revealed?

it should be maximized

How does someone prevent throwing away their life?

recognize responsibility to world; ask what we can do for the world vs what it can do for us

How did Frankl’s fellow camp member sacrifice himself for a loved one?

made a “deal with Heaven” and said if he died it would save his wife from a painful death

What were the kinds of guards?

sadists, severely detached, dulled from brutality, taking pity on prisoners

What are the 2 kinds of men?

decent and indecent

What did prisoners need to do after liberation?

talk and eat

Why couldn’t prisoners feel joy after liberation?

reality couldn’t penetrate their consciousness; couldn’t go back to their old lives and needed to find new place in society

When did Frankl’s new life begin?

he knelt, looked at the sky, and said “I called to the Lord from my narrow prison and He answered me in the freedom of space”