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Peter D. Ouspensky

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Philosopher

The Resume

    (March 4, 1878-October 2, 1947)
    Born in Moscow, Russian Federation
    Russian philosopher and follower of G.I. Gurdjieff
    Wrote: 'Tertium Organum,' 'The Strange Life of Ivan Osokin,' 'The Symbolism of the Tarot,' 'In Search of the Miraculous,' 'The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution'
    Taught the 'Fourth Way' a system of combining physical, mental, and emotional/spiritual improvement techniques into a systematic whole

Why he might be annoying:

    Most of what he taught was simply a dumbed down version of his teacher, Gurdjieff's teachings.
    He was not trained as a psychologist, but, presented his teachings and his and Gurdjieff's 'Fourth Way' as a whole new field of self-improvement.
    He was thrown out of high school for vandalism and never attended college.
    The 'Fourth Way' has never been scientifically shown to be any more effective than any other system of self improvement.
    He was a newspaper reporter for a while.
    He presented some of his ideas in the form of the science fiction novel, 'The Strange Life of Ivan Osokin.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He broke with Gurdjieff over various issues, but was the only former student that Gurdjieff allowed to write about the 'Fourth Way.'
    He had several celebrity followers, including Aldous Huxley and T.S. Eliot.
    His intriguing technique of self-remembering, that is concentrating on the inner self while remaining fully alert and involved in the outside world, has been developed since his time and is also known as 'appreciation.'
    He didn't engage in Gurdjieff's scandalous affairs and didn't develop the cult like organization among his followers like Gurdjieff.
    Like Gurdjieff, he had to flee Russia or face death at the hands of the communists.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 130 Votes: 67.69% Annoying