Question

Frankl observes that the "intensification of inner life" helped prisoners cope with their situation. In what ways did Frankl’s inner life help him maintain his will to live in this seemingly meaningless world?

a. Through physical strength
b. By focusing on external circumstances
c. Via the intensification of inner life
d. Ignoring the emotional aspect

Answer 1

Viktor Frankl's 'intensification of inner life,' which included finding meaning in suffering, envisioning a future, and spiritual resilience, helped him maintain his will to live in the harsh conditions of a concentration camp.

Step-by-step explanation:

Viktor Frankl's book 'Man's Search for Meaning' outlines how he found the strength to survive the Holocaust by uncovering a purpose in life to feel positively about, and then immersively imagining that outcome. Frankl's intensification of inner life helped him maintain his will to live in several ways:

• By finding personal meaning in the experience of life, which included the suffering that was inherent to his situation in the concentration camps.
• Through envisioning a future beyond the camp, particularly reconnecting with his loved ones and resuming his work as a psychiatrist and neurologist.
• By engaging in acts of spiritual resilience such as thinking of his wife and their relationship, which transcended the physical environment of the camp.

Thus, the correct option in Frankl’s case would be c. Via the intensification of inner life.