Economists and therapists both seem to love to talk about how things and people should work, but rarely do I see real life bearing much resemblance to their principles. One exception is Dr. Viktor Frankl. His observations fit perfectly with what I see in the behavior of humanity.
Dr. Viktor Frankl was a renowned psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor, and author of the influential book "Man's Search for Meaning." His views on hatred were shaped by his experiences during the Holocaust and his subsequent work as a therapist. Frankl believed that hatred is ultimately self-destructive and that it arises from a sense of powerlessness and fear. He argued that individuals who feel a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives are less likely to harbor feelings of hatred toward others. He also emphasized the importance of personal responsibility and individual agency in overcoming hatred and promoting a more peaceful and just world. Here are a few quotes that summarize Frankl's views on hatred:
"Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he 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."
"Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless he loves him."
"Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness."
"In some ways, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice."
"The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances."
He is absolutely correct, and his points are effortlessly clear. Self-destructive hatred stems from a sense of powerlessness and fear propagated by social media. Personal responsibility has been lost and all seem to be searching for some greater purpose in life.
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