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Peter Wessel Zapffe
52quotes
Peter Wessel Zapffe
Full Name and Common Aliases
Peter Wessel Zapffe was a Norwegian philosopher, mountaineer, and writer. He is often referred to as "Zapffe" in academic and literary circles.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on 10 May 1882, Zapffe lived a long and fulfilling life until his passing on 12 April 1968.
Nationality and Profession(s)
A native of Norway, Zapffe identified himself as a Norwegian philosopher. Throughout his life, he pursued various careers including mountaineer, writer, and philosopher.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in the picturesque town of Halden, Norway, Zapffe developed a deep appreciation for nature's majesty. His father was a police officer, and this upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of morality and duty. As he grew older, Zapffe became increasingly fascinated with philosophy, which would eventually become his life's work.
Major Accomplishments
Zapffe's philosophical contributions are still studied today for their originality and depth. His most notable achievement is the development of The Last Human, an essay that posits humanity's inherent tendency towards self-destruction. This groundbreaking work questions the purpose and meaning behind human existence, sparking a new wave of existentialist thought.
Notable Works or Actions
Zapffe's body of work includes numerous philosophical essays, poems, and short stories. Some of his notable writings include:
The Last Human (1933): A seminal essay that explores humanity's propensity for self-destruction.
On the Concept of Progress in Philosophy (1941): An essay that critiques traditional notions of progress and development.
* Mountaineering Notes from 1917-1924: A collection of personal accounts detailing Zapffe's mountaineering adventures.
Impact and Legacy
Zapffe's ideas have had a profound impact on existentialist thought, influencing notable philosophers such as Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre. His critiques of human nature continue to resonate with contemporary audiences, offering a unique perspective on the human condition.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Zapffe's philosophical musings are widely quoted and remembered for their thought-provoking insights into humanity's existential predicament. His critiques of modern society's values and his emphasis on living in harmony with nature have resonated with readers worldwide.
Quotes by Peter Wessel Zapffe
Peter Wessel Zapffe's insights on:
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Man is the ultimate tragic being, because he has learned enough about the Earth to realise the Earth would be better off without the presence of humankind.
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He is mighty in the near world, but curses his might as purchased with his harmony of soul, his innocence, his inner peace in life’s embrace.
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He is the universe’s helpless captive, kept to fall into nameless possibilities.
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Despite his new eyes, man was still rooted in matter, his soul spun into it and subordinated to its blind laws. And yet he could see matter as a stranger, compare himself to all phenomena, see through and locate his vital processes. He comes to nature as an unbidden guest, in vain extending his arms to beg conciliation with his maker: Nature answers no more, it preformed a miracle with man, but later did not know him.
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The human yearning is not merely marked by a ‘striving toward’, but equally by an ’escape from.
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Cultural history, as well as observation of ourselves and others, allow the following answer: Most people learn to save themselves by artificially limiting the content of consciousness.
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If one regards life and death as natural processes, the metaphysical dread vanishes, and one obtains peace of mind.
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The immediate facts are what we must relate to. Darkness and light, beginning and end.
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The more a human being in his worldview approaches the goal, the hegemony of love in a moral universe, the more has he become slipshod in the light of intellectual honesty.
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