Collected here in a single volume are the most important philosophical writings of Albert Schweitzer, one of the greatest thinkers and humanitarians of our time. Carefully chosen from among his many written works, the selections in this anthology illuminate and amplify Dr. Schweitzer’s cardinal principle of belief—a reverence for life. Among the important and revealing works included are “Pilgrimage to Humanity,” which outlines his philosophy of culture, the early influences in his life, and his ideal of world peace; “The Light Within Us,” one of the twentieth century’s most significant and beautiful statements of one man’s faith in his fellow man; and “Reverence for Life,” which states, with great clarity and conviction, the essence of Schweitzer’s wisdom. Because of his legendary fame as a medical missionary, other equally important and outstanding aspects of Schweitzer’s life are not as well known. Readers of this book will realize that Albert Schweitzer was a truly creative thinker, whose concern with the problems of the human spirit and whose methods of expressing this concern have raised him to the stature of one of the world’s foremost philosophers.
The classic collection of timeless quotations from the Nobel Peace Prize–winning missionary, theologian, and international bestselling author. Famous for founding the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, in what is now the West African country of Gabon, Albert Schweitzer was an accomplished theologian, physician, philosopher, music scholar, international bestselling author, and even a virtuoso organist. His many pursuits and achievements were inspired by his ethical philosophy of “Reverence for Life,” which he wrote about extensively in his many books and articles. In The Light Within Us, Schweitzer’s longtime friend Richard Kik has compiled many of his most insightful and inspiring quotations. Drawn from his many writings, these quotations share Schweitzer’s thoughts on service, gratitude, God, missionary work, and much more. A wonderful introduction to the breadth of Schweitzer’s thought, this slim volume contains an abundance of wisdom.
This “little gem of a book” shares the Nobel laureate’s profound insights on ethics, ecology, human rights, and more (Jane Goodall). The theologian and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer dedicated his life to the betterment of mankind. In 1952, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his philosophy of Reverence for Life—and for the many ways he put that philosophy into action. This volume gathers together his thoughts on this profound and deeply influential concept. Based on a fundamental respect and compassion for all living things, Schweitzer’s philosophy sought to reconcile the conflicting drives of egoism and altruism. He applied this ethical perspective to a host of topics, from war and peace to arts, animal rights, and forming a global community. Reverence for Life draws on Schweitzer’s diverse writings across decades, including excerpts from previously unpublished letters to John F. Kennedy, Norman Cousins, Bertrand Russell, and others. A foreword by former US Ambassador, Roger Gamble, an introduction by the editor, Harold E. Robles, and a brief biographical sketch of Schweitzer’s life round out this essential volume.
Albert Schweitzer, the philosopher, theologian, physician, biographer of J. S. Bach and musician, and Alice Ehlers, the harpsichordist and great Bach interpreter, met as musicians. This book makes available for the first time a selection of letters these two great personalities exchanged between the years of 1928 and 1965. Although music is the main subject of these letters during the early period of their relationship, the letters increasingly deal with their personal and professional lives. Later letters reveal the help Ehlers rendered Schweitzer's hospital through benefit concerts, Schweitzer's concern for the future of his hospital, and his happiness with the growing world-wide acceptance of his ethical ideas. Schweitzer's last letter was written only months before his death.
This book provides the only personal portrait of Schweitzer, here as a young man on a quest to better the lot of humankind, and of the woman who helped to shape that pursuit. Schweitzer was twenty-six and Helene Bresslau twenty-two when they met. He was preparing for an academic life in theology and philosophy, while his skill as a musician supplemented his intellectual work. Helene stepped beyond the conventions of the day by entering the nursing field, by founding a welfare program for single mothers, and fearlessly stating her own opinions. While Schweitzer searched for his path, Bresslau provided the sounding board for many of his ideas.
Albert Schweitzer's leading philosophical idea was "reverence for life": good consists in maintaining and perfecting life, evil in destroying and obstructing life. For Schweitzer, all life is sacred, and ethics deals with human attitudes and behavior toward all living beings. Unlike most other moral philosophers, Schweitzer argues that knowledge of human nature does not lead to any unique moral theory. For that reason, he bases his ethics on much broader foundations, articulated in his philosophy of civilization and philosophy of religion. His central idea is that the material element of our civilization has become far more important than its spiritual counterpart. Even organized religion has put itself in the service of politics and economics, thereby losing its vitality and moral authority. Schweitzer's ethics of reverence for life, argues Predrag Cicovacki, offers a viable alternative at a time when traditional ethical theories are found inadequate. Collecting fifteen of Schweitzer's most effective essays, this volume serves as a compelling introduction to this remarkable thinker.
In this charming autobiographical essay, Albert Schwenzer tells of his first nineteen years in Upper Alsace and his youthful discoveries of religion, music, and the inspiration of friendship. Even in his boyhood there were traces of what was to become his "reverence for life": as a boy, he writes, he managed to dissuade several companions from going fishing because of the pain he felt the deed gave to both the worm and the fish. In poignant vignettes, Schweitzer also describes his unhappiness at discovering that he had better food or better clothing than chose around him. Memoirs of Childhood and Youth offers wonderful insights on Dr. Schweitzer's childhood journey that eventually led him to dedicate himself to medical service in African colonies. This new translation also has rarely seen photographs of Schweitzer, both as a youth and as an adult.
Gathered together for the first time in one place, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Albert Schweitzer's words on ecology, human and animal rights, philosophy, war and peace, music and the arts, and forming a global community. "I cannot but have Reverence for all that is called life. I cannot avoid compassion for everything that is called life. That is the beginning and foundation of morality." Albert Schweitzer Spanning many decades and a host of topics, this rich collection of the words of Albert Schweitzer offers a glimpse into the life and thought of an eminent humanitarian. "Reverence for Life" was Schweitzer's unifying term for a concept of ethics. He believed that such an ethic would reconcile the drives of altruism and egoism by requiring a respect for the lives of all other beings and by demanding the highest development of an individual's resources. The thread of this inspirational belief appears throughout his deeply insightful writings. Excerpts from previously unpublished letters to John F. Kennedy, Norman Cousins, Bertrand Russell, and others show how truly committed Schweitzer was to creating a global compassion consciousness and cultivating a dignity toward all people. A foreword by former U.S. Ambassador, Roger Gamble, an introduction by the editor, Harold E. Robles, and a brief biographical sketch of Schweitzer's life round out this stunning collection of quotations.
Published to commemorate Albert Schweitzer's only visit to the United States 60 years ago, this anniversary edition of his autobiography gives 21st-century readers a unique and authoritative account of the man John F. Kennedy called "one of the transcendent moral influences of our century." Schweitzer is celebrated around the world as a European pioneer of medical service in Africa, a groundbreaking philosopher and musical scholar, and a catalyst of environmental and peace activism. Yet people most revere Schweitzer for his dedication to serving others and his profound and influential ethic of reverence for life. For Schweitzer, reverence for life was not a theory or a philosophy but a discovery—a recognition that the capacity to experience and act on a reverence for all life is a fundamental part of human nature, a characteristic that sets human beings apart from the rest of the natural world. This anniversary edition coincides with several high profile celebrations of his 1949 visit, as well as the release of a new feature film starring Jeroen Krabbe and Barbara Hershey. In addition to a foreword by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, this edition features a new foreword by Lachlan Forrow, president of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.