His work provides a more rigorous, biological framework for the "absurd" than Camus or Sartre. Legacy and Influence
Zapffe is a forefather of the idea that bringing children into a world of suffering is morally questionable. zapffe on the tragic pdf
The character Rust Cohle famously mirrors Zapffe’s "biological mistake" philosophy. His work provides a more rigorous, biological framework
Attaching our lives to a "fixation point" like family, career, God, or the state to feel secure and purposeful. His work provides a more rigorous
Being aware of "the terrifying void" leads to existential dread, which Zapffe argues we must suppress to survive. The Four Pillars of Defense
Zapffe views the human mind as a freak of nature, similar to the oversized antlers of the extinct Irish Elk.