Philosophical foundations of logotherapy

Logotherapy is the theory known as the "Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy" that emerged in the twentieth century. Its pioneer is neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl. Among other representatives, Irvin Yalom, Rollo May and James Bugental stood out. According to the representatives of logotherapy theory, the way to make human life livable is through "meaning". Accordingly, it is possible to define logotherapy as "meaning therapy". Although this theory is in the field of psychology, it is noteworthy that it has a significant connection with philosophy. In the planned thesis study, it is aimed to clarify the philosophical understandings underlying logotherapy. At the same time, the effects of existential philosophy on logotherapy will be investigated. In addition, it is planned to examine the contributions of philosophers who have put forward ideas about meaning, anxiety, death, etc. to logotherapy. In this framework, the thoughts of philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Buber, Binswanger and Boss will be referred to. In the last section, it is aimed to formulate some suggestions about the development of logotherapy and its importance for today.