I do not agree with Frankl. I do not believe Mans primary driving force is a search for meaning. Nor do I concede with his critics that propose alternative motivations, such as power, or pleasure. I believe that man has the capacity to be driven by many motivational factors, not just any single one. Moreover, I believe that these motivations represent themselves in a predictable, patterned way. In three of the books we read this summer, it is possible to trace the evolution of the protagonists motivations, and their subsequent philosophical state of awareness. Millers Willy Loman, Tolstoys Ivan Ilych, and Victor Frankl himself all follow a similar path of self-philosophy, each character showing us a little of the authors own philosophy.Freud, who was the first to define a psychological motivating force, was the first to approach the subject as a scientist. As a scientist, he felt obligated to find the simplest explanation for mans behavior, a General Rule that would apply to every person. As can be attested to by the likes of Victor Frankl, though, Freuds suggestion that man is driven by a search for pleasure isnt always accurate. I commend Freuds efforts, however, for I would venture to say that it is accurate most of the time. It is my belief that in Mans initial stages of philosophical and psychological development, pleasure is the single greatest motivational factor. Kierkegaard cited a similar idea in his Child stage of development, that when Man is in his psychological infancy, he is driven solely by pleasure and reward. This drive for pleasure may never cease to be Mans primary motivation. One may stay in this stage of development permanently. It all depends on whether or not this pleasure ceases. I follow the idea that, initially, Man lives his life as a passenger. As Kierkegaard noted, in early life, a Mans decisions are made for him. His parents and family, teachers, and society, all make his decisions. Unli...
