Author
Ivana Zagorac
Summary
Albert Schweitzer, a theologian, musician, doctor, missionary and philosopher, remains known by his persistent promoting of holistic perception of the term “life”, from which his specific ethical conception based on care and responsibility is derived. The axis of Scweitzer’s ethics is the concept of reverence for life” as a moving force of our self-realization, but also a feeling of empathy for all living beings. The particularity of Scweitzer’s bioethical thoughts is empowered by his continuant humanitarian work, but also political engagement in social movements in the 1950’s. This text sheds light on activities of the anti-nuclear movement in which Scweitzer took an important place, with a particular review of his Declaration of conscience (1957) and the text Peace of nuclear war? (1958). Both texts contribute to the claim derived from Scweitzer’s other papers that, in his philosophically oriented papers as well as political engagement, he represents “a bioethicist before bioethics”
Key words
Albert Schweitzer, nuclear weapons, peace movements, responsibility for the future
URL: https://www.ibn-sina.net/en/albert-schweitzer-a-philosopher-of-peace/