Teleological links between Philosophical Counselling and Logotherapy

Abstract

This paper will indicate the methodical and subject tangents between philosophical counselling on the one hand, and logotherapy – a psychotherapeutic direction developed in the middle of the last century by the Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Frankl – on the other side of the evaluation spectrum. Three main points will be settled in the focus of the elaboration. The first is a technique of the Socratic dialogue, special characteristic of both approaches set forth in the title of this presentation. Yet we can also comfortably say – of almost all psychotherapeutic schools and techniques. With an emphasis on maieutic as the basis of the psyche-hermeneutic process – dynamic disclosure of the person’s essence and its intentional telos. The second point refers to reaching the meaning and purpose of a person as the intentional core. The third point is aimed at reaching the spiritual dimension of the person, viewed as a teleological synthesis and reachable aim of the both approaches. In conclusion, the paper will be put forward that now it is a fruitful time for the therapeutic relationship on the global scene to return to its philosophical foundations methodologically and subjectively. Opening the doors for providing and spreading the “philosophical spirituality” as the global paradigm, enabling humanistic encounter and the philosophical dialogue on the wide global horizon.