Zapffe’s Defense Mechanisms Against Existential Angst

By AI-ChatGPT4o-T.Chr.-Human Synthesis-20 February

Wessel Zapffe (1899–1990) was a Norwegian philosopher, author, and mountaineer known for his pessimistic existential philosophy. His central idea was that humans possess an overdeveloped consciousness that makes them painfully aware of their own mortality and the apparent meaninglessness of existence—an awareness that other animals do not have. This, he argued, creates a fundamental misalignment between human beings and nature.

In his 1933 essay The Last Messiah, Zapffe described four main ways in which humans cope with their existential anxiety:

Isolation – Suppressing disturbing thoughts about death and meaninglessness. This can be done individually (e.g., avoiding difficult topics) or socially (e.g., cultural taboos around discussing mortality).

Anchoring – Creating or adhering to stable values, beliefs, or institutions to provide meaning and security. Examples include religion, nationalism, family, or even personal projects that give life direction.Distraction – Engaging in continuous activity to avoid existential reflection. This includes entertainment, work, hobbies, and socializing—anything that keeps the mind occupied.

Sublimation – Transforming existential anxiety into creative or intellectual pursuits. Artists, writers, and philosophers often sublimate their struggles into their work.

Zapffe believed that these coping mechanisms allow humans to function despite the absurdity of existence, but they do not resolve the core problem—only mitigate its impact. His philosophy closely parallels the ideas of existentialists like Albert Camus but is often seen as even more pessimistic..