Abstract
The author presents his experiences in comparing three theories of spiritual psychology in his dissertation. Since then, he has worked to resolve several paradoxes that are inherent in Frankl’s theory:
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If the noëtic dimension contains an objective meaning that is always available in every situation, then why is the conscience imperfect?
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How can the noëtic dimension also contain the realm of responsibility, free will, and choice if it contains a treasure chest of perfect health?
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If the universe—and each of us—are created with purpose, why do we struggle so much with our imperfect selves?
The answers are found scattered across Frankl’s writing, in which he points to a fourth dimension. The author maintains that meaning (the noëtic) is the bridge that connects us with this fourth dimension, Frankl’s Ultimate Meaning.
With kind reprint permission; adapted and updated from The International Forum for Logotherapy (originally published in Vol. 46, No. 1). This was originally presented as a plenary address at the World Congress of Logotherapy, June, 2017.
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Notes
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However, Frankl (2000) also stated: “Mental illness may be psychogenic (neurosis) or somatogenic (psychosis) in nature and origin. But noögenic and (psych-) iatrogenic (pseudo-) neuroses also exist” (p. 134).
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McLafferty,, C.L. (2024). From Meaning to Purpose: Finding the Heart of a Living Logotherapy. In: McLafferty, Jr., C.L., Levinson, J. (eds) Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. Logotherapy and Existential Analysis: Proceedings of the Viktor Frankl Institute Vienna, vol 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48922-8_28
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