They both are seeking wisdom and spiritual growth, but for very different reasons. Frankl has to find some kind of order and reason in his experience, or he will either go mad or die. Thoreau's spiritual quest is one of peace and harmony, while Frankl's is one of duress and oppression. He writes, "What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment" (Frankl 171). At that given moment in time, Frankl's life did not mean anything to anyone but himself, and he used this experience to develop his own philosophy on life and wisdom, just as Thoreau used his experience to develop his own philosophy. The two men had the same goals, but reached them very differently due to their circumstances. It is difficult to judge who has the best approach, because they both did not choose their circumstances, Frankl had his chosen for him. Of course, Thoreau's approach was much more peaceful, nurturing, and painless, and so it would be easy to say he had the best approach...
However, Frankl's situation was much more demanding, mentally and physically, and so, he may have actually gotten more out of it as a result. He notes, "It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly" (Frankl 122). Indeed, he may have the best approach because he was forced to dig even more deeply than Thoreau for real answers and wisdom. Thoreau could leave his pond whenever he chose, and Frankl could not, so his wisdom may come from a deeper core than Thoreau's, because Thoreau did not have to face the adversity Frankl faced, and so his isolation was much easier and far less stressful.
I realized that so much of my anxiety and trouble resulted from things I truly didn't care about. Who was that person who cared? I couldn't tell. It was a relief to find that beneath all the anxieties of daily life, anxieties propelled by rapid turnover and cliched expectations, that I had a personality. Beneath all the extraneous troubles, I had a conscience that would lead me where I
Walden Two: Human Nature and Society The bourgeoisie naturally conceives the world in which it is supreme to be the best. Karl Marx People throughout history, since the beginning of time began, have been expressing dissatisfaction with the way the world is and trying to find ways to make it better. Along the way various fictional societies called "Utopias," after the book of the same name written by Thomas More in 1515 and
Question #4) Thoreau argues that his solitude does not equal loneliness. First, Thoreau describes the brilliance of his relationship with plants, animals, and the elements. Second, Thoreau comments on the connections he maintains with the world outside of Walden Pond, as visitors frequent the house to leave cards, flowers, and gifts in support of his endeavor. Finally, Thoreau feels paradoxically less lonely when he is alone: "I never found the companion
Walden Community Like any academic institution, Walden University has certain explicit values relating to academic integrity. The fact that these values are made explicit, and that they relate to the official APA set of principles relating to academic honesty, provides a platform for individuals who work and study at the institution to develop a uniform and internationally accepted ethical approach to academia. As a scholar-practitioner, I expect to develop a number of
Eserver.org/walden02.html).This, he implies is impossible in society. Thoreau stresses that although he is alone, he is never lonely. In fact, it is society and living away from nature that creates a sense of loneliness and hatred for one's own species: "I experienced sometimes that the most sweet and tender, the most innocent and encouraging society may be found in any natural object, even for the poor misanthrope and most melancholy
Walden University mission and vision statements relate directly to the skills and experiences needed for success in the Walden Masters of Clinical Research Administration program. The university has pledged in its mission statement to provide "a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change." The university has a vision of a very different learning community where
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now