In conversations with Viktor

Muse #213 - or perhaps I'm nitpicking

Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/2fV74MiWrVo

I love analyzing quotes. Deeply. From different perspectives. Here is one for today:

Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.

— Viktor E. Frankl (1905 - 1997) Psychiatrist

Like Buddism and Stoicism, Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s search for meaning” and his logotherapy has been instrumental in shaping the way in how I look at my world. And, I have written about Viktor’s work before. But, back to today’s point on the above quote before I digress too far.

It is interesting to see Viktor’s perspective of instead of asking “what the meaning of life is” to be asked the question “what the meaning of life is” and answering it from one’s own individual perspective. And an individual response to their own question. Perfect so far.

The second point from Viktor is that we can respond only by being responsible to answer that question. I disagree here. That would be a bias. Because some would want to answer that question. Some not at all. Some might not care. We are all going to be on a spectrum of whether we want to take responsibility or not. We are human indeed. So, if I were in Viktor’s shoes, I would either say:

Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible (or not) in whichever he way he wants to.

or in a little simpler form:

Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can show it by his response.

Because it is one’s life isn’t it? To question or answer things. Including whether he wants to be responsible or not, or to whatever extent one would like to be. One could always be questioning and pondering. Or choose to act. In whatever way.