Man's Search for Meaning

Frankl’s core argument in the book is that human beings are motivated first and foremost by their desire to find meaning in their lives. What are some examples that Frankl gives of ways that human beings might find meaning? How does Frankl say he found meaning in his own life? Are some ways of finding meaning better than others?

Teaching Suggestion: Highlight Frankl’s point that there are many ways people can find meaning in their lives: Frankl himself says that while he was in the concentration camps, he found meaning through his love for his wife and through his determination to complete and publish his manuscript after the end of the war. While every person’s search is different, Frankl is also insistent that people should avoid hurting one another, an idea that ties into his claim that the world is divided between “swine and saints.”

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function differences might find sorting through the entire text to find evidence daunting. You might help these students pinpoint the most relevant sections of text to limit the amount they need to review or allow students additional time to gather evidence.