Self-Transcendence as a Human Phenomenon
Journal of Humanistic Psychology April 1, 1966 Viktor E. Frankl 311 citations
Human existence is characterized by two distinct capacities: self-detachment and self-transcendence. Self-transcendence means that being human inherently involves pointing toward and being directed to something beyond oneself—other beings to encounter and meanings to fulfill. Viewing humans as closed systems is a grave misinterpretation; being human fundamentally means being open to the world. This self-transcending quality is ignored by motivational theories based on the homeostasis principle, which assume humans are primarily concerned with maintaining inner equilibrium and reducing tensions.