Peter Wessel Zapffe

Peter Wessel Zapffe was a Norwegian philosopher, author, artist, lawyer and mountaineer. He is often noted for his philosophically pessimistic and fatalistic view of human existence. His system of philosophy was inspired by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, as well as his firm advocacy of antinatalism. His thoughts regarding the error of human life are presented in the essay "The Last Messiah". This essay is a shorter version of his best-known work, the philosophical treatise On the Tragic.

18 December 1899

Born on the same birth day (18 December): Barbora Krejčíková • Bill Thompson (television host) • Charles Wesley • James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry • Johann Salomo Semler • John Booth (motor racing) • John Cooper (hurdler) • Paul Klee • Paul Siple • Seth Doege • Simonds d'Ewes • Steven Spielberg

Born in the same month (December 1899): Charlie Spencer • DeFord Bailey • Gustaf Gründgens • Howard Kinsey • Humphrey Bogart • Jean de Brunhoff • John Barbirolli • John Cobb (racing driver) • John Qualen • Julio de Caro • Karl-Günther Heimsoth • Martin Luther King Sr. • Martyn Lloyd-Jones • Noël Coward • Silvestre Revueltas