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Peter Wessel Zapffe

Born

in Tromsø, Norway

December 18, 1899

Died

October 12, 1990

Genre

Philosophy

Influences

Arthur Schopenhauer

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Peter Wessel Zapffe [pronounced ZAP-fe] was a Norwegian philosopher, author and mountaineer. He was well known for his somewhat pessimistic view of human existence and his philosophy is widely considered to be pessimistic, much like the earlier work of Arthur Schopenhauer, by whom he was inspired. His thoughts regarding the error of human existence are presented in the essay, The Last Messiah (original: Den sidste Messias, 1933). This essay is a shorter version of his best-known work, the philosophical treatise, On the tragic (original: Om det tragiske 1941). He called his brand of thought, biosophy, which he defined as "thinking on life".

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Peter Wessel Zapffe’s books

Average rating: 4.28 · 2,631 ratings · 331 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Last Messiah by Peter Wessel Zapffe, Peter Reed (Translator), David Rothenberg (Translator) 4.30 avg rating — 1,914 ratings — published 1933 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Essays 4.35 avg rating — 447 ratings — published 1933	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barske glæder og andre temaer fra et liv under åpen himmel 4.10 avg rating — 151 ratings — published 1993 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	On the Tragic by Peter Wessel Zapffe, Ryan L. Showler (translator) 4.18 avg rating — 60 ratings — published 1941 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jeg Velger Sannheten : en dialog mellom Peter Wessel Zapffe og Herman Tønnessen by Peter Wessel Zapffe, Herman Tønnessen, Arne Næss 3.60 avg rating — 10 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kulturelt Nødverge: Zapffes Efterlatte Skrifter really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1997 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lykksalig Pinsefest 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1997	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hvordan jeg blev så flink; Essays; Rikets Hemmelighet 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1999 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rikets hemmelighet - en kortfattet Jesus-biografi 3.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1985	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Spøk og Alvor 3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1998 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Peter Wessel Zapffe (?)

“A coin is examined, and only after careful deliberation, given to a beggar, whereas a child is flung out into the cosmic brutality without hesitation.”
― Peter Wessel Zapffe, Essays og Epistler

tags: antinatalism, to-be-a-human-being

127 likes

“To bear children into this world is like carrying wood to a burning house.”
― Peter Wessel Zapffe

tags: antinatalism, birth, children, death

112 likes

“Know yourselves- be infertile and let the earth be silent after ye.”
― Peter Wessel Zapffe, Essays

tags: discontinuation, existentialism, pessimism

109 likes

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