Petter Zapffe (1915-2005) was a Norwegian philosopher and writer known for his work on existentialism and the human condition. One of his key concepts is the idea of the "tragic," which he explores in his book "The Last Messiah" (1933) and other writings. In this blog post, we'll delve into Zapffe's concept of the tragic and its relevance to human existence.
Distraction is the constant focus of attention on external impressions to prevent the mind from turning inward. zapffe on the tragic pdf
"Through millions of years, nature has evolved a nervous system with a surplus of potentials that are not only unnecessary for survival, but downright perilous." Petter Zapffe (1915-2005) was a Norwegian philosopher and
Papers linking Zapffe to modern antinatalist thinkers like David Benatar, or horror philosophers like Thomas Ligotti (whose book The Conspiracy Against the Human Race relies heavily on Zapffe). The Legacy of Zapffe's Pessimism Distraction is the constant focus of attention on
This is Zapffe's short, highly accessible essay that outlines his entire philosophy. It has been translated into English and is widely available as a free PDF online. If you are new to Zapffe, start here.
Because pure, unfiltered consciousness would drive humanity to collective madness, Zapffe argued that we have developed four psychological defense mechanisms to survive. These mechanisms allow us to limit the contents of our consciousness and function in daily life. 1. Isolation