One of the most prominent perspectives on meaning in life...

One of the most prominent perspectives on meaning in life is that of Frankl (1959, 1984). He describes meaning in life as having found a reason for living and a feeling or experience that one’s life is of significance. In Frankl’s view, meaning in life refers to a sense of being committed to, and fulfilling, a higher purpose in life. This purposefulness provides one with a reason for living (the term purpose is often used as a synonym for meaning). It makes life more than just a survival quest, but rather an experience of one’s life as having made or being able to make a difference in the world. According to Yalom (1980), two questions one can ask pertaining the meaning are â€Å"what is the meaning of life?† and â€Å"what is the meaning of my†¦show more content†¦As long as he remains conscious, he has irresponsibleness. This responsibility remains with him to the last moment of his existence.† Reker’s (2000) conception of existential meaning overlaps with Yalom’s (1980) afore mentioned two questions. He defines existential meaning as â€Å"attempts to understand how events in life fit into a larger context. It involves the process of creating and/or discovering meaning, which is fascinated by a sense of coherence (sense of order, reason for existence) and a sense of purpose in life (mission in life, direction, goal orientation)† (p.39). Coherence seems to address Yalom’s first question (â€Å"what is the meaning of life?†) whereas a sense of purpose could be seen as a response to the second (â€Å"what is the meaning of my life?†). Also central to Reker’s formulation of existential meaning are what he refers to as the â€Å"core processes† of meaning- making, i.e., searching for meaning and finding meaning. Baumeister (1991) took a somewhat different track by suggesting that the meaning of one’s life is not a distinct form of meaning. Rather, it is no different from the meaning in a sentence: the parts come together to form a coherent whole, it can be comprehended by other people, it fits into a wider context, and it evokes particular assumptions understood by the culture. The two functions meaning serves, accordingShow MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesWeidemann-Book Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2011, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1998 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproductionRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book