Viktor Frankl's Case for Tragic Optimism and Addiction

The case for tragic optimism –
What does tragic optimism mean?
Tragic optimism means that one is, and remains, optimistic in spite of the “tragic triad”:
1.     Pain,
2.     Guilt, and
3.     Death.

To get and stay clean and sober in the face of pain, guilt, and death means to say yes to life in spite of all of these things.

How can life retain its potential meaning in spite of its tragic aspects?

To say “Yes to life in spite of everything” assumes that life is potentially meaningful under any conditions, even those which are most miserable.

This then assumes that we have the human capacity to creatively turn life’s negative aspects into something positive or constructive…

Thus, tragic optimism is an optimism in the face of a tragedy and in view of the human potential which at its best always allows for:

1.     Turning suffering into a human achievement and accomplishment;

2.     Deriving from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better; and

3.     Deriving from life’s transitoriness an incentive to take responsible action.