Peter Wessel Zapffe
Peter Wessel Zapffe | |
|---|---|
Zapffe in 1949 | |
| Born | 18 December 1899 Tromsø, Norway |
| Died | 12 October 1990 (aged 90) Asker, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Philosopher, author, artist, lawyer, mountaineer |
| Spouses | Bergliot Espolin Johnson
(m. 1935; div. 1941)Berit Riis Christensen
(m. 1952) |
| Awards | Fritt Ord Honorary Award (1987) |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | University of Oslo |
| Philosophical work | |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| School | |
| Main interests | Metaphysics, nihilism, philosophical pessimism |
| Notable works |
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| Notable ideas |
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Peter Wessel Zapffe (/ˈzæpfə/; Norwegian: [ˈsɑ̂pfə]; 18 December 1899 – 12 October 1990) was a Norwegian philosopher, author, artist, lawyer and mountaineer. He is often noted for his philosophically pessimistic and fatalistic view of human existence. His system of philosophy was inspired by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, as well as his firm advocacy of antinatalism. His thoughts regarding the error of human life are presented in the essay "The Last Messiah" ("Den sidste Messias", 1933). This essay is a shorter version of his best-known work, the philosophical treatise On the Tragic (Om det tragiske, 1941).