Victor Frankl said that the reason why men live isn't for power or pleasure, but rather meaning. Men unconsciously strive for a meaning to life. They have gone so far as to say that their true meaning is to pleasure oneself or have total control of power, which if one was to really think about it is quite ridiculous. I guess I can't complain because I feel like the two psychologists who came up with the power and pleasure principles were on to something. Every man likes to pleasure himself (not that way), but after a while they begin to care for others and pleasure them more. For example, once a man or woman has children, their priority is to pleasure their children, which in return pleasures them to know that their children are getting all that they can get. In a way it's a circle of pleasure. Anyways, whether it be power through success or strength, men also seek power, but not through out their whole life. I believe this kicks in around adolescence through around the time (if a man has kids) that children leave. If they have no kids, then it would end around the time that they have realized that power isn't everything, which will eventually happen. After this phase leaves, then they realize that the meaning to life is actually having meaning alone. People begin to think about what they think about and why and even how are they even thinking. For example, they will begin asking questions that many people will not have the answer to.
After reading 'Man's Search for Meaning' and learning about psychology and philosophy, I have rounded up most of the beliefs. I believe that all of these men who created these theories were correct, but they weren't quite their. I believe that they merely had a slice of what life is all about. I believe that all of these theories are played out through a person's life. Every person will encounter pleasure; just as every person will want to strive for greatness and power; just as every person will question their existence in life. Frankl proposed that there are many meanings to life, so I guess I can agree that he was the closest one who truly understood what it was to do in life and it's pretty much to enjoy it while it lasts. Enjoy all the good, and all the bad, things that will happen through your life.
