Peter Wessel Zapffe
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Peter Wessel Zapffe (
1899-
1990) was a Norwegian author and philosopher. He was born in
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).
Zapffe's theory, is that humans are born with an overdeveloped skill (understanding, self-knowledge) which does not fit into nature's design. The human craving for justification on matters such as life and death cannot be satisfied, hence humanity has a need that nature cannot provide satisfaction for. The tragedy, following this theory, is that humans spend all their time trying not to be human. The human being, therefore, is a paradox.
Zapffe described four principal defense mechanisms that humankind uses to avoid facing this paradox:
- Isolation. One hides from the truth. The individual simply does not talk or think about it.
- The fixing mechanism. This mechanism is based on all things humans take for granted.
- Distraction. The most popular defense mechanism; the individual simply focusses their attention on external impressions.
- Sublimation. The least popular defense mechanism; the individual outdistances him / herself and looks at their existence from an esthetic point of view (eg, writers, poets, painters.) Zapffe pointed out the fact that he himself used this method combined with a sense of humor concerning the nature of life.
Greater works
- Om det tragiske (en. On the tragic), Oslo 1941 og 1983.
- Den fortapte s?n, En dramatisk gjenfort?ling (en. The lost son, a dramatic renarration), Oslo 1951.
- Indf?ing i litter? dramaturgi (en. Introduction to literary dramaturgy), Oslo 1961.
- Den logiske sandkasse (en. The logical sandpit), Oslo 1965.
- Vett og uvett. Stubber fra Troms og Nordland (en. Wits and witless) by Einar K. Aas and P.W Zapffe, Trondheim 1942.
- Lyksalig pinsefest (en. Blissful Pentecost), Oslo 1972.
- Hos doktor Wangel (en. With dr. Wangel), by Ib Henriksen (pseudonym.), Oslo 1974.
- Rikets hemmelighet (en. The secret of the kingdom), Oslo 1985.
See also