Summary: The Man In Search Of Meaning

Do we have free-will? As Victor Frank stated in his book The Man in Search of Meaning, “External factors will always be there, the only thing we have power over is our mindset.” Our mindset determines a huge amount of what we are capable of doing. While many would argue that structural barriers would hinder our ability to act, the truth is that our agency to think and act can change our behavior no matter in what situation we are. Victor Frank survived a Nazi concentration camp with this idea. Nelson Mandela changed South African politics in a system that did not allow blacks to hold positions of power.To decide how we respond to what is external is what makes us human after all. Victor Frank said, “The world can be falling apart, but you …show more content…
Naturally, people would expect for Mandela to comply with the system and believe that the system can not be changed. His behavior went against what his reality offered him -a life without political representation. Mandela fought against the system so the system would not make his decision for him. He made his decisions for himself. That is what makes a difference if we do not believe in the power of making our own decision then it is true that our behavior will be determine by forces outside ourselves. Our external world will always affect our decisions. However, our behavior depends on us on how we respond not react towards the outside world. Yes, being in a concentration camp made Victor Frank think more about survival and the nature of life. However, his behavior towards that reality was decided by Mr. Frank himself. The same thing happens with Mandela. Mandela decided his behavior, he did not allowed the structural problems of South Africa to decide his behavior for himself. In conclusion, while the external world will influence what you think of, your behavior is in your hands. Agency embodies what makes us humans. Our ability to decide is what determines our behavior. If we let the external forces live our lives not then we are not living we are living expression of our circumstances. However, if we live from within to without.