Comments on: Life and Death http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/ Meditations on strategy and life Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:25:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9994 John Wed, 14 May 2008 11:03:34 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9994 There is nothing wrong with the other two. For me, personally, I find that by accepting suffering for what it is and find some meaning through it, I am no longer bothered by it, and therefore able to move on with my life. There is nothing wrong with the other two. For me, personally, I find that by accepting suffering for what it is and find some meaning through it, I am no longer bothered by it, and therefore able to move on with my life.

]]> By: Alex http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9993 Alex Tue, 13 May 2008 21:16:20 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9993 John dude, you're putting too much of an emphasis on suffering. To say that suffering is the only way to find meaning in your life is shortsighted and, as Frankl puts it, "masochistic." And in "Man's Search for Meaning," Frankl theorizes on 3 chief ways to obtain meaning in your life: 1) Commit yourself to a work 2) Have a potent relationship with a person or people or 3) Through genuine suffering. What's wrong with the other two? John dude, you’re putting too much of an emphasis on suffering. To say that suffering is the only way to find meaning in your life is shortsighted and, as Frankl puts it, “masochistic.”

And in “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Frankl theorizes on 3 chief ways to obtain meaning in your life: 1) Commit yourself to a work 2) Have a potent relationship with a person or people or 3) Through genuine suffering. What’s wrong with the other two?

]]> By: John http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9992 John Tue, 13 May 2008 20:06:50 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9992 Two concepts that I perceived from reading Frankl's book: life is a constant struggle that never ends, and that being happy is in fact not normal. We are told throughout our life that we should achieve happiness; however, this is a stupid goal, because it is unattainable and the feeling of happiness is always fleeting. What is most important is that we accept and find meaning through suffering in order to achieve what is most important: being able to live with our self. Two concepts that I perceived from reading Frankl’s book: life is a constant struggle that never ends, and that being happy is in fact not normal. We are told throughout our life that we should achieve happiness; however, this is a stupid goal, because it is unattainable and the feeling of happiness is always fleeting. What is most important is that we accept and find meaning through suffering in order to achieve what is most important: being able to live with our self.

]]> By: Alex http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9991 Alex Tue, 13 May 2008 14:02:00 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9991 I think if you can figure out how to live your life in response to your circumstances you can figure out an appropriate and congruent way to face death. Frankl surviving the tremendous level of dehumanizing actions in Nazi concentration camps probably made him see integrity in death, and pride in misery, as the ideal. If Theramenes had written a similar passage I wonder if he would mention "courage, principles, and a bit of humor" as the chief virtues of a condemned man. I think if you can figure out how to live your life in response to your circumstances you can figure out an appropriate and congruent way to face death.

Frankl surviving the tremendous level of dehumanizing actions in Nazi concentration camps probably made him see integrity in death, and pride in misery, as the ideal.

If Theramenes had written a similar passage I wonder if he would mention “courage, principles, and a bit of humor” as the chief virtues of a condemned man.

]]> By: Ryan Holiday http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9990 Ryan Holiday Tue, 13 May 2008 12:00:28 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9990 It seems like dying with courage, principles and a bit of humor isn't all that different from most prescriptions on living. I could be wrong, you tell me. It seems like dying with courage, principles and a bit of humor isn’t all that different from most prescriptions on living.

I could be wrong, you tell me.

]]> By: Alex http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9989 Alex Tue, 13 May 2008 10:47:09 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9989 So are you disagreeing with Frankl and saying that knowing how to die and how to live can be the same, but that may not mean "suffering proudly?" So are you disagreeing with Frankl and saying that knowing how to die and how to live can be the same, but that may not mean “suffering proudly?”

]]> By: anon http://www.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9988 anon Tue, 13 May 2008 09:07:33 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/life-and-death/#comment-9988 Please don't say "homies." Otherwise, good entry. Please don’t say “homies.” Otherwise, good entry.

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