Self-Transcendence as a Human Phenomenon

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

THERE are two specifically human phenomena by which human exist-ence is characterized. The first is constituted by man's capacity for self-detachment (Frankl, 1964). Another capacity of man is that for self-transcendence (Frankl, 1965a). In fact, it is a constitutive charac-teristic of being human that it always points, and is directed, to some-thing other than itself. It is, therefore, a severe and grave misinter-pretation of man to deal with him as if he were a closed system. Actually, being human profoundly means to be open to the world, a world, that is, which is replete with other beings to encounter and with meanings to fulfill. This self-transcending quality of human existence is ignored and neglected by those motivational theories which are based on the homeostasis principle. According to these theories man is basically concerned with maintaining, or restoring, an inner equilibrium and to this end with reducing tensions. In the final analysis, this is also