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What might motivate the human being – self-actualization or self-transcendence? It has been a point of discussion among the anthropologists.
The word self-transcendence can be translated as ‘going-beyond of the self’. There is a force and active thrust in every individual to go beyond, or for self-transcendence. Self-actualization explains the fundamental tendency of humans to actualize the potency and the capacity of each individuals. Abraham Maslow placed this tendency of self-actualizaton as highest level of need in his heirarchy of needs.
Viktor Frankl makes a meaningful link between self-actualization with self-transcendence in his popular work named ‘The will to meaning’. He says that ‘self-actualization is not man’s ultimate destination. Self-actualization, if made an end in it, contradicts the self-transcendent quality of human existence.’
He explains this fact in comparison with happiness. Happiness cannot be attained by directly intending it, but happiness must happen. Like happiness, self-actualization is the unintentional effect of life’s intentionality. Here, Frankl questions the pleasure principle of Freud. Pleasure principle is self- defeating. The more one aims at pleasure, the more the aim is missed. Both pleasure and peak experiences must remain as effects, cannot be pursued.
While speaking about religious vocation, Rulla emphasizes the Frankl’s view such as ‘self-actualization is the side effect, the by-product of self-transcendence, of meaning fulfillment, of realization of values.’
Human beings limit their growth and development when someone is in pursuit of self-actualization distant to the inner search for self-transcendence. All attempts for self-actualization would help the individuals to grow beyond of oneself and to experience the transcendental experience in God.
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