Download or read book The Restoration of Albert Schweitzer s Ethical Vision written by Predrag Cicovacki and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2012-04-26 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1913, Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) left his internationally renowned career as a theologian, philosopher, and organ player to open a hospital in the jungles of Africa. There he developed in theory and practice his ethics of reverence for life. When he published his most important philosophical work, The Philosophy of Civilization, few people were serious about treating animals with dignity and giving any consideration to environmental issues. Schweitzer's urge was heard but not fully appreciated. One hundred years later, we are in a better position to do it. Predrag Cicovacki's book is a call to restore Schweitzer's vision. After critically and systematically discussing the most important aspects of the ethics of reverence for life, Cicovacki argues that the restoration of Schweitzer does not mean the restoration of any particular doctrine. It means summoning enough courage to reverse the deadly course of our civilization. And it also means establishing a way of life that stimulates striving toward what is the best and highest in human beings.
Download or read book Albert Schweitzer s Ethical Vision written by Albert Schweitzer and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Reverence for Life written by Albert Schweitzer and published by Open Road Media. This book was released on 2014-12-02 with total page 63 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Reverence for Life written by Ara Paul Barsam and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2008-01-29 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Albert Schweitzer maintained that the idea of "Reverence for Life" came upon him on the Ogowe River as an "unexpected discovery, like a revelation in the midst of intense thought." While Schweitzer made numerous significant contributions to an incredible diversity of fields - medicine, music, biblical studies, philosophy and theology - he regarded Reverence for Life as his greatest contribution and the one by which he most wanted to be remembered. Yet this concept has been the subject of a range of distortions and misunderstandings, both academic and popular. In this book, Ara Barsam provides a new interpretation of Schweitzer's reverence and shows how it emerged from his studies of German philosophy, Indian religions, and his biblical scholarship on Jesus and Paul. By throwing light on the origin and development of Schweitzer's thought, Barsam leads his readers to a closer appreciation of the contribution that reverence makes to current ethical issues. Whereas previous commentators have focused on "reverence for life" as a philosophical ethic located in that tradition, this book demonstrates that it is in fact Schweitzer's theology that provides the hitherto undiscerned foundation for his ethic. Even among those who herald Schweitzer as the one who brought "reverence" to Christianity, there exists a tendency to underemphasize how his thinking also developed from his pivotal encounter with Indian religions. As Barsam shows, it is impossible to grasp the nature and the significance of Barsam's contribution without addressing that link. Life-centered ethics - in the broadest sense - have continued to flourish, yet Schweitzer's pioneering contribution is often overlooked. Not only did he help establish the issue on the moral agenda, but, most significant, he also provided much sought after philosophical and theological foundations. Schweitzer emerges from this critical study of his life and thought as a remarkable individual who should rightfully be regarded as a moral giant of the twentieth-century.
Download or read book Civilization and Ethics written by Albert Schweitzer and published by . This book was released on 1923 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Albert Schweitzer s Ethical Vision A Sourcebook written by Predrag Cicovacki and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2009-02-02 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The philosophy of Albert Schweitzer has proved widely influential in modern thinking, especially in the field of ethics. His leading ethical idea can be summarized in the phrase "reverence for life" - namely, that good consists in maintaining and perfecting life, and evil consists in destroying and obstructing life. For Schweitzer, all life is sacred. Ethics thus deals with human attitudes and behavior toward all living beings. Unlike many moral philosophers, Schweitzer argues that knowledge of human nature does not provide a sufficient foundation for any adequate moral theory. That is why he bases his ethics on much broader foundations, articulated in his philosophy of civilization and the philosophy of religion. Schweitzer argues that the material aspect of our civilization has become far more important than its spiritual counterpart. Even organized religion has put itself in the service of politics and economy, 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. Schweitzer's robust and un-dogmatic idealism may offer the best antidote to the prevailing relativism and nihilism of the postmodern epoch. His ethical vision directs us toward a new way of building a more just and more peaceful world. Collecting sixteen of Schweitzer's most effective essays, this volume serves as a compelling introduction to this remarkable thinker and humanist.
Download or read book Albert Schweitzer s Reverence for Life written by Professor Mike W Martin and published by Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. This book was released on 2012-10-01 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, Nobel Peace Laureate, theologian, and musician, developed a character-oriented ethics focused on self-realization, nature-centered spirituality, and moral idealism which anticipated the current renaissance of virtue ethics. Schweitzer's idea of 'reverence for life' underscores the contribution of moral ideals to self-realization, connects ethics to spirituality without religious dogma, and outlines a pioneering environmental ethics that bridges the gap between valuing life in its unity and valuing individual organisms. In this book Mike W. Martin interprets Schweitzer's 'reverence for life' as an umbrella virtue, drawing together all the more specific virtues, in particular: authenticity, love, compassion, gratitude, justice and peace loving, each of which Martin discusses in an individual chapter. Martin's treatment of his subject is sympathetic yet critical and for the first time clearly places Schweitzer's environmental ethics within the wider framework of his ethical theory.
Download or read book The Philosophy of Civilization written by Albert Schweitzer and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In this fascinating and highly sensitive work, Albert Schweitzer - one of the most compelling social philosophers of this century - analyzes the human condition and offers his thoughts on its recovery through the collective consciousness of life-affirmation grounded on ethical values."--Page 4 of cover.
Download or read book Reverence For Life written by Marvin Meyer and published by Syracuse University Press. This book was released on 2002-10-01 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Albert Schweitzer's system of ethics as a way of life in which individuals live with compassion and respect for all living things—humans, animals, and plants—or "Reverence for Life" is illuminated here through a series of compelling essays by Schweitzer and renowned contemporary Schweitzer scholars from around the globe. The selection of Schweitzer's writings includes, sermons, letters, and autobiographical and philosophical works chosen by the editors to outline the development of his thought throughout his lifetime.
Download or read book The Restoration of Albert Schweitzer s Ethical Vision written by Predrag Cicovacki and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2012-04-26 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1913, Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) left his internationally renowned career as a theologian, philosopher, and organ player to open a hospital in the jungles of Africa. There he developed in theory and practice his ethics of reverence for life. When he published his most important philosophical work, The Philosophy of Civilization, few people were serious about treating animals with dignity and giving any consideration to environmental issues. Schweitzer's urge was heard but not fully appreciated. One hundred years later, we are in a better position to do it. Predrag Cicovacki's book is a call to restore Schweitzer's vision. After critically and systematically discussing the most important aspects of the ethics of reverence for life, Cicovacki argues that the restoration of Schweitzer does not mean the restoration of any particular doctrine. It means summoning enough courage to reverse the deadly course of our civilization. And it also means establishing a way of life that stimulates striving toward what is the best and highest in human beings.
Download or read book The legacies of Albert Schweitzer reconsidered written by Izak J.J. Spangenberg and published by AOSIS. This book was released on 2016-12-31 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book on the legacy of Albert Schweitzer contextualises this remarkable intellectualist, humanist, medicine-man, theologian and Nobel Prize winner. This collected work is aimed at specialists in the humanities, social sciences, education, and religious studies. The authors embrace philanthropic values to benefit Africa and the world at large. The publication engages with peers on the relevance of Schweitzer’s work for humanitarian values in Africa. The essays in the book stimulate further research in the various fields in which Schweitzer excelled. Its academic contribution is its focus on the post-colonial discourse in contemporary discussions both in South Africa and Africa at large. The book emphasises Schweitzer’s reverence for life philosophy and demonstrates how this impacts on moral values. However, the book also points to the possibility that Schweitzer’s reverence for life philosophy is embedded in a typically European appreciation of ‘mysticism’ that is not commensurate with African indigenous religious values. From an African academic perspective, the book advocates the view that Schweitzer’s concept of the reverence for life supports not only the Biblical notion of imago Dei but also the African humanist values of the preservation and protection of life, criticising the exploitation of the environment by warring factions and large companies, especially in oil-producing African countries. It also argues that Schweitzer’s disposition on ethics was influenced by the Second World War, his sentiments against nuclear weapons and his resistance to the Enlightenment view of ‘civilisation’. With regard to Jesus studies the book elucidates values promoted by Schweitzer by following in Jesus’ steps and portraying Jesus’ message within a modern world view. Taken over from Schweitzer, the book argues that Jesus’ moral authority resides in his display of love and his interaction with the poor and marginalised. The book demonstrates Schweitzer’s understanding of Jesus as the one who sacrifices his own life to bring the Kingdom of God to realisation in this world. The book commends Schweitzer’s insight that we know Jesus through his toils on the one hand, and through our own experiences on the other. It is in a mixture between the two that the hermeneutical gap between then and now is bridged. It is precisely in bridging this gap that Schweitzer sees himself as an instrument of God’s healing. It defines Schweitzer as the embodiment of being a healer, educationalist and herald of the greening of Christianity. His philosophy on the reverence for life prepares a foundation for Christians to think ‘green’ about human life within a greater environment. He advocates aspects of education such as lifelong learning, holistic education and a problem-based approach to education. Finally, the book analyses both critically and appreciatively Albert Schweitzer’s contribution to the concepts of religious healing prevalent in African Christianity today.
Download or read book The New Rationalism written by David K. Goodin and published by McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. This book was released on 2013 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An engaging and timely rediscovery of an ethic grounded in compassion.
Download or read book The World View of Reverence for Life written by Percy Mark and published by . This book was released on 2020-02-18 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work addresses the central issues which need to inform the nature of the next evolutionary step which humankind has to take if it is to find a way to survive the climatic changes, the mass extinctions, the devastation and pollution which the life-style of our species has caused on this planet during the last three centuries.The 25 year old Albert Schweitzer did not share the euphoria which dominated the New Year's celebrations of 1900 in Europe, and the experience caused him to decide to write a Philosophy of Civilisation. It was to appear in four parts and was to explore the concept of civilisation throughout history and projected into the future. Whilst going in search for the root cause of what he perceived as the decay of civilisation in our time, he found a vacuum at the core of European thought. There was no connection between the prevalent euphoric affirmation of life and the ethical character which to him seemed to be the essential ingredient of a thriving civilisation.He had been a professor of theology and philosophy since his early 20's - so he knew his subject well - but whilst pondering deeply over this vacuum he found himself at an impasse. Then, in 1915, the realisation came to him that an attitude of reverence towards all life - towards Life itself - had to be the missing link to fill this vacuum and form a bridge that would lead to a new, revitalised concept of civilisation.The first two books of his four-part philosophy were published in German and in English in 1923 under the titles: 'The Decay and the Restoration of Civilisation' and 'Civilisation and Ethics"Part Three, which was to be called "The World View of Reverence for Life" became the focus of his philosophical writing between 1931 - 1945 (whilst raising the funds and building and running a large hospital in the jungle of central Africa). But this work remained incomplete.Part Four, to be called "The Civilised State", was never started. A selection from the thousands of pages of manuscript for Part Three, which were found after Schweitzer's death, was published in German in 1999, and it is a further selection from this published work that has been translated and commented on by Percy Mark in this publication.
Download or read book Reverence for Life Revisited written by David A. Valone and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2009-10-02 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the product of a conference held by the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac University in 2005. The conference re-examined the life and work of Albert Schweitzer, particularly his idea of "Reverence for Life," and assessed the relevance of his ideas for the twenty-first century. The essays in this book represent various perspectives on Schweitzer's life and works, including: reminiscences from individuals who worked with or were directly influenced by Schweitzer's life, including Jane Goodall (who was the keynote speaker at the conference); philosophical examinations of Schweitzer's ideas in light of present concerns; and practical applications of Schweitzer's ideas to current problems in global issues including arms control, medical ethics, education, and state building. The essays represent perspectives drawn from individuals of diverse backgrounds (from undergraduate students to professional academics, as well as those engaged in diplomacy, wildlife conservation, and health care), and from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
Download or read book My Path with Albert Schweitzer written by Percy Mark and published by . This book was released on 2020-06-28 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The phrase 'Reverence for Life' has come to stand for an ethical attitude towards life which Dr. Albert Schweitzer, theologian, philosopher, organist and medical doctor redefined for Western civilisation, in the hope that it might contribute to its renaissance and prepare the path for a new spirit to energise humankind to take the next step towards its evolutionary destiny.Percy Mark, a young architect in 1962, visited the 88 year old Dr. Schweitzer at his hospital in the tropical jungle of the Gabon, close to the equator in Africa, and instead of staying for a few days, remained there for six months, helping with construction works as general 'handyman'; returning to Europe only when his health began to falter. He had met his future wife there, and when they married a year later, they settled in England to raise a family.This book describes their path together in the service of Albert Schweitzer's legacy, with particular focus on an evaluation of the contribution Volume III of Schweitzer's Philosophy of Civilisation can make to our ability to meet the challenges we face today. Percy's little verse gives the direction of travel: Why not give a thought each dayTo the role we humans are here to play In the life of our evolving planet?Percy's translation of significant parts of Volume III of Schweitzer's Philosophy of Civilisation from German into English has been published as NESt Book Two under the title: "The World View of Reverence for Life"
Download or read book A Treasury of Albert Schweitzer written by Albert Schweitzer and published by Open Road Media. This book was released on 2014-12-02 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Albert Schweitzer s Reverence for Life written by Mike W. Martin and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-23 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, Nobel Peace Laureate, theologian, and musician, developed a character-oriented ethics focused on self-realization, nature-centered spirituality, and moral idealism which anticipated the current renaissance of virtue ethics. Schweitzer's idea of 'reverence for life' underscores the contribution of moral ideals to self-realization, connects ethics to spirituality without religious dogma, and outlines a pioneering environmental ethics that bridges the gap between valuing life in its unity and valuing individual organisms. In this book Mike W. Martin interprets Schweitzer's 'reverence for life' as an umbrella virtue, drawing together all the more specific virtues, in particular: authenticity, love, compassion, gratitude, justice and peace loving, each of which Martin discusses in an individual chapter. Martin's treatment of his subject is sympathetic yet critical and for the first time clearly places Schweitzer's environmental ethics within the wider framework of his ethical theory.
