Albert Schweitzer - biography, information, personal life. Albert Schweitzer

Biography

Schweitzer was born in Kaysersberg (Upper Alsace, which belonged to Germany in those years; now - the territory of France), in the family of a poor Protestant pastor Louis Schweitzer and his wife Adele, nee Schillinger, also the pastor's daughter. In -1885, Albert studied at a real school in Münster, then at a gymnasium in Mühlhausen (-).

Schweitzer the Philosopher

Schweitzer the humanist

Living such a sacrificial life, he never reproached anyone. On the contrary, he was very sorry for people who, due to circumstances, cannot devote their lives to others. And he always urged those to take advantage of every opportunity to do good. “There is no person who does not have the opportunity to give himself to people and thereby show his human essence. Anyone who uses every opportunity to be human can save his life by doing something for those who need help - no matter how modest his activity may be. Schweitzer believed that a person has no right to judge anyone but himself, and the only thing he can preach is his way of life.

Compositions

	Albert Schweitzer at Wikiquote
	Albert Schweitzer at Wikimedia Commons

• "Kant's Philosophy of Religion" (1899; dissertation),
• "The Problem of the Last Supper, an Analysis Based on Nineteenth-Century Scientific Research and on Historical Records" (1901),
• The mystery of messianism and passions. Essay on the Life of Jesus (1901),
• "AND. S. Bach - musician and poet "and" Johann Sebastian Bach "(first edition - J.S. Bach, musicien-poète, in French in 1905; second expanded edition - Johann Sebastian Bach, in German in 1908),
• "From Reimarus to Wrede" and "History of the study of the life of Jesus" (first edition - Von Reimarus zu Wrede in 1906; second edition - Geschichte der Leben-Jesu-Forschuung in 1913),
• "Psychiatric Evaluation of the Personality of Jesus" (Die psychiatrische Beurteilung Jesu, 1913, dissertation),
• "Between water and virgin forest" (Zwischen Wasser und Urwald, 1921),
• "From my childhood and youth" (Aus meiner Kindheit und Jugendzeit, 1924),
• The Decline and Rebirth of Culture. Philosophy of culture. Part I." (Verfall und Wiederaufbau der Kultur. Kulturphilosophie. Erster Teil, 1923),
• “Culture and ethics. Philosophy of culture. Part II." (Kultur und Ethik. Kulturphilosophie. Zweiter Teil, 1923),
• "Christianity and World Religions" (Das Christentum und die Weltreligionen, 1924),
• "Letters from Lambarene" (1925-1927),
• "The Building Art of German and French Organs" (Deutsche und französische Orgelbaukunst und Orgelkunst, 1927),
• "The Attitude of Whites to Colored Races" (1928),
• "Mysticism of the Apostle Paul" (Die Mystik des Apostels Paulus; 1930),
• "From my life and my thoughts" (Aus meinem Leben und Denken; autobiography; 1931),
• The worldview of Indian thinkers. Mysticism and ethics "(Die Weltanschauung der indischen Denker. Mystik und Ethik; 1935),
• "On the Condition of Our Culture" (1947),
• "Philosophy and the Animal Protection Movement" (1950),
• "The idea of ​​the Kingdom of God in the era of the transformation of eschatological faith into non-eschatological" (1953),
• "The problem of ethics in the course of the development of human thought". (1954-1955)
• "African stories" (Afrikanische Geschichten, 1955),
• "Peace or atomic war" (Peace or atomic war, 1958),
• "Humanity" (1961, published 1966)
• Reflections on the Philosophy of Lao Tzu. Fragments from various works.

Schweitzer about himself

• From my childhood and youth (fragment)

Literature

• Nosik B. Albert Schweitzer. The White Doctor of the Jungle. (2nd edition, 2003; 1st was in the ZhZL series, 1973)
• Getting G. Meetings with Albert Schweitzer: Per. with him. - M .: Nauka, 1967.
• Fryer P. G. Albert Schweitzer. Picture of life.
• Huseynov A. A. Reverence for life. Gospel of Schweitzer.
• Chernyavsky A. L. The Philosophy and Theology of Albert Schweitzer.
• Gilenson b. A kind man from Lambarene.
• Levada Yu. A. Old Fashioned and Modern by Albert Schweitzer
• Kharitonov M.S. The Ethics of Albert Schweitzer and Indian Thought
• Albert Schweitzer - the great humanist of the XX century / Comp. V. Ya. Shapiro; Ed. V. A. Karpushin. - M .: Nauka, 1970. - 240 p. - 12,000 copies.(reg.)
• Petritsky V. A. Light in the jungle. - L .: "Children's Literature", 1972. - 254 p.
• Kalyagin A. N., Blokhina N. N."Reverence for Life" by Dr. Schweitzer (to the 130th anniversary of his birth). // Siberian Medical Journal. - Irkutsk, 2004. - T. 49. No. 8. - S. 92-95.

Links

• Dedication to Albert Schweitzer. Eternity plus humanity An excerpt from the book by Vladimir Levy "The Lonely Friend of the Lonely".

Categories:

• Personalities in alphabetical order
• January 14
• Born in 1875
• Born in Haut-Rhin
• Deceased 4 September
• Deceased in 1965
• Deceased in Gabon
• Honorary Knights of the British Order of Merit
• Philosophers alphabetically
• Graduates of the University of Strasbourg
• Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
• Philosophers of Germany
• German theologians
• Academic musicians of Germany
• German organists
• Philosophers of France
• Theologians of France
• Academic musicians of France
• Organists of France
• Early music performers
• Pacifists
• Physician writers
• Corresponding Members of the British Academy
• Honorary Citizens of Frankfurt am Main
• Knights of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
• Memoirists of France
• Memoirists of Germany

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"I am a life that wants to live in the midst of other lives that want to live." (A. Schweitzer

“A personal example is not just best method beliefs, but the only one." (A. Schweitzer)

"Civilization is such a great idea that someone has to start implementing it." (Schweitzer).

“Truth has no fixed hour. Its time always comes when and only when it turns out to be the most untimely. (A. Schweitzer)

"True ethics begins where the use of words ceases." (A. Schweitzer)

We are always dissatisfied with something. Someone is dissatisfied with their parents, someone with children, someone with a failed career. Albert Schweitzer was dissatisfied with the fact that an unfair amount of happiness fell to his lot. At thirty, this man had achieved everything. Doctor of Philosophy, assistant professor of theology, a brilliant organist, who was met with triumph in many European cities. Whatever he did, he was expected to succeed. But from a young age he was tormented by the only question - for what, for what sins people drag out a difficult life, and for what merits he got so much happiness.

And one day it happened. Quite by chance, he came across an article with a report from the French missionary society on the state of affairs in the French colony of Gabon. It was written there that doctors are urgently needed in Gabon. The search has been completed. Schweitzer enters the medical faculty of the university. Five years of study, then two years of practice. And finally, he becomes a certified doctor. His friends could not believe that Schweitzer was leaving for Africa. And he was in no hurry to dissuade them, and besides, he often visited them with requests to donate money for medicines and medical equipment for his future hospital. Many times Schweitzer noticed how the tone and attitude of his friends towards him changed when they realized that he had come as a petitioner. But even here he did not lose heart, and later he even said that the kindness that he met at that time outweighed the humiliations that he had to endure a hundred times. He told his followers, whom he called the lucky ones who managed to challenge the usual notions of happiness: “He who intends to do good should not expect people to remove all the stones from his path, he must calmly accept his lot even if new ones will be piled on him.”

It was not easy for Schweitzer to give up everything he had lived for thirty years. The last days of his stay in Europe, he even tried to be less on the streets of his native city, so that feelings would not prevent him from being firm. He knew he was losing everything. He won't be able to practice scientific work, music, and, in addition, loses his high position, and financially he will now have to completely depend on the location of his friends who support him.

In 1913, Schweitzer finally found himself in the tiny African village of Lambarene, which would become his second home. There were many things to do. We had to build a hospital. While construction was going on, he received people in his house, and used outbuildings as operating rooms and dressing rooms. But in 1914, the First World War began, and the French authorities interned him as a German subject. Schweitzer ended up in a POW camp. Four years in captivity undermined his health, but did not break his spirit. Having gone to Africa after the war, he found only ruins on the site of his hospital, but found the strength to start all over again.

Most of all, Schweitzer was depressed by the absence of assistants. Of course, the climate that was detrimental to a European and the lack of normal living conditions could scare away even the most daring. In addition, Schweitzer had difficulty finding funds for medicines and equipment, and payment was out of the question. But not without reason Schweitzer said: "My knowledge is pessimistic, but my faith is optimistic." He believed that the God who inspired him would inspire someone else. In 1924, a second doctor appeared in Lamparin, and later five doctors and sixteen nurses worked at the center. These few people served 660 patients. There were still not enough people, and local residents, once healed by a doctor, came to the rescue. Having mastered the necessary skills, they became faithful and diligent assistants to professional doctors.

Meanwhile, a new war broke out in Europe. And while the Big White Doctor (as he was called in Lamparene) fought in Africa for every human life, tens of thousands were burned in the furnaces of war. Many wanted to see an authoritative doctor as their ally. But Schweitzer refused everyone. He did not want to participate in this massacre on anyone's side. He went on with his life's work without interruption for a moment.

August 6, 1945. A woman in labor in serious condition cannot give birth to a child. As a result of a complex operation that lasted all night, the mother and baby were saved. Meanwhile, in another part of the world, a bomb was dropped, which in a matter of seconds wiped out an entire city from the ground and claimed tens of thousands of lives. On that day, Schweitzer said: "When one hundred thousand people are killed by a single bomb, it is my duty to prove to the world how valuable a single human life is." The next twenty years, in addition to directly saving lives, he devoted to the fight against nuclear weapons tests. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It is said that when he was informed of this, he was in the antelope stable, clearing out manure. Hearing the news, he nodded and continued to work. With the money received, Schweitzer built a leper colony in Lamparin. He spent almost half a century in Africa, sometimes traveling to Europe to give a few lectures and give a few organ recitals. With the money he earned, he bought medicines and equipment for his hospital.

Living such a sacrificial life, he never reproached anyone. On the contrary, he was very sorry for people who, due to circumstances, cannot devote their lives to others. And he always urged those to take advantage of every opportunity to do good. “There is no person who does not have the opportunity to give himself to people and thereby show his human essence. Anyone who uses every opportunity to be human can save his life by doing something for those who need help - no matter how modest his activity may be. In general, Schweitzer believed that a person has no right to judge anyone but himself, and the only thing he can preach is his way of life.

The 20th century, cruel and contradictory… But against the background of cruelty and evil, those who called for goodness and peace shine even brighter, and showed love for their neighbor with their lives. Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, and of course the "Big White Doctor" Albert Schweitzer. “Then the King will say to those who right side His: Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you accepted Me; was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him: Lord! when we saw you hungry and fed you? or thirsty, and drink? when we saw you as a stranger and received you? or naked and clothed? when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you? And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, because you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.”

"I don't know another person in whom kindness and the desire for beauty are so perfectly combined, as in Albert Schweitzer." - This is how Einstein described Albert Schweitzer, an outstanding theologian, philosopher, musician and physician, on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
We bring to your attention a small selection of quotes from this man.

"My knowledge is pessimistic, but my faith is optimistic."

"Not out of a feeling of kindness towards another, I am meek, peaceful, patient and affable - I am like that because in this behavior I secure the deepest self-affirmation."

"The one who considers himself a Christian just because he goes to church is mistaken.
To learn how to pray, you first need to learn how to give thanks."

"Each of us must repay an unusual debt: to pay for life with life."

"For a person who is over 60, I have one recipe: work hard and work even harder!"

"Good is to preserve life, to promote life, evil is to destroy life, to harm life."

"True optimism ... consists in striving for a conscious ideal ..."

"... A fulfilled desire most often brings disappointment, for only the expected joy is true joy ..."

"What is usually considered optimism is nothing more than a natural or acquired ability to see things in a rosy light."

"The fate of any truth is first to be ridiculed, and then recognized."

"Man masters nature before he has yet learned to master himself."

"The ethical is more than the non-egoistic!
Ethics is an unlimited responsibility for everything that lives.
We need to rise to spirituality, which is ethical, and to ethics, which includes all spirituality.

"Abstraction is death for ethics, because ethics is a living relationship to living life."

"You don't have to be an angel to become a saint."

"True ethics begins where they stop using words."

"If you look from the outside, my life may seem full of adventures. In principle, it is very simple. My ancestors were teachers and organists. Therefore, passing by a rural school, I always feel a certain sense of longing for the profession that my ancestors traditionally practiced ."

"At twenty, each of us has the face given to us by God; at forty, the face that life has given us; at sixty, the face we deserve."

"To understand whether animals have a soul, you must have a soul yourself."

"Only two things bring relief from life's troubles: music and cats"

"It is tragic not that a person dies, but that in a person dies during life..."

"Leading by example is not the main way to influence other people. It's just the only way."

The outstanding humanist, philosopher, physician Albert Schweitzer set an example of service to humanity throughout his life. He was a versatile personality, engaged in music, science, theology. His biography is full interesting facts, and quotations from Schweitzer's books are instructive and aphoristic.

Early years and family

Albert Schweitzer was born into a religious family on January 14, 1875. His father was a pastor, his mother was a pastor's daughter. From early childhood, Albert went to services in a Lutheran church and all his life he loved the simplicity of the rites of this branch of Christianity. There were four children in the family, Albert was the second child and the eldest son. He spent his childhood in the small town of Gunsbach. According to his recollections, it was a very happy time. At the age of 6 he was sent to school, and it cannot be said that it was a pleasure for him. At school, he studied mediocre, he achieved the greatest success in music. There were many conversations in the family religious themes, the father told the children the history of Christianity, every Sunday Albert went to his father's services. Already at an early age, he had many questions about the essence of religion.

Albert's family had not only deep religious, but also musical traditions. His grandfather was not only a pastor, but also played the organ, he designed these musical instruments. Schweitzer was a close relative of the later famous philosopher J.-P. Sartre.

Education

Albert changed several schools until he got to the gymnasium in Mühlhausen, where he met "his" teacher, he was able to inspire the boy to serious studies. And in a few months, Schweitzer became the first of the last students. All the years of his studies at the gymnasium, he continued to systematically study music under the supervision of his aunt, with whom he lived. He also began to read a lot, this passion remained with him for the rest of his life.

In 1893, after graduating from high school, Schweitzer entered the University of Strasbourg, which was in its heyday. Many young scientists worked here, promising research was carried out. Albert enters two faculties at once: theological and philosophical, and also attends a course in music theory. Schweitzer could not pay for education, he needed a scholarship. In order to reduce the period of study, he volunteered for the army, this made it possible to obtain a degree in a shorter time.

In 1898, Albert graduated from the university, he passed his exams so brilliantly that he received a special scholarship for a period of 6 years. For this, he is obliged to defend a dissertation or will have to return the money. He passionately begins to study at the Sorbonne University in Paris and a year later receives a doctorate, writing a brilliant work. On next year he defends his dissertation in philosophy, and a little later he receives the title of licentiate in theology.

A path in three directions

After receiving a degree, Schweitzer opens up brilliant opportunities in science and teaching. But Albert makes an unexpected decision. He becomes a pastor. In 1901, Schweitzer's first books on theology were published: a book on the life of Jesus, a work on the Last Supper.

In 1903, Albert received a position as professor of theology at St. Thomas, a year later he becomes the director of this educational institution. At the same time, Schweitzer continues to engage in scientific research and becomes a major researcher of J. Bach's work. But Albert, with such fantastic employment, continued to think that he had not fulfilled his destiny. At the age of 21, he made a vow to himself that until the age of 30 he would be engaged in theology, music, science, and then he would begin to serve humanity. He believed that everything he received in life requires a return to the world.

Medicine

In 1905, Albert read an article in the newspaper that there was a catastrophic shortage of doctors in Africa, and immediately made the most important decision of his life. He leaves his job at the college and enters the medical college of the University of Strasbourg. To pay for his education, he actively gives organ concerts. So Albert Schweitzer, whose biography is changing dramatically, begins his "service to humanity." In 1911 he graduated from college and set out on his new path.

Life for the benefit of others

In 1913, Albert Schweitzer left for Africa to organize a hospital. He had minimal funds to create a mission, which was provided by the missionary organization. Schweitzer had to go into debt in order to purchase at least the minimum set of necessary equipment. The need for medical care in Lambarene was enormous, in the first year alone, Albert received 2,000 patients.

In 1917, during World War I, Schweitzer was sent as a German subject to French camps. And after the end of the war, he was forced to stay in Europe for another 7 years. He worked at the Strasbourg hospital, paid off mission debts, and raised money to resume work in Africa by giving organ recitals.

In 1924, he was able to return to Lambarene, where he found ruins instead of a hospital. I had to start all over. Gradually, through the efforts of Schweitzer, the hospital complex turned into a whole settlement of 70 buildings. Albert tried to win the trust of the natives, so the hospital complex was built according to the principles of local settlements. Schweitzer had to alternate periods of work in the hospital with European periods during which he lectured, gave concerts and raised money.

In 1959, he permanently settled in Lambarene, where pilgrims and volunteers reached out to him. Schweitzer lived a long life and died at the age of 90 in Africa. The business of his life, the hospital, passed to his daughter.

Philosophical views

During the First World War, Schweitzer began to think about the ethical foundations of life. Gradually, over several years, he formulates his own philosophical concept. Ethics is built on the highest expediency and justice, it is the core of the universe, says Albert Schweitzer. "Culture and Ethics" is a work in which the philosopher sets out his basic ideas about the world order. He believes that the world is driven by ethical progress, that humanity needs to reject decadent ideas and "resurrect" the true human "I", the only way to overcome the crisis in which modern civilization is. Schweitzer, being a deeply religious person, did not condemn anyone, but only felt sorry and tried to help.

Books by A. Schweitzer

During his life, Albert Schweitzer wrote many books. Among them are works on music theory, philosophy, ethics, anthropology. He devoted many works to the description of the ideal of human life. He saw it in the rejection of wars and building a society on the ethical principles of human interaction.

The main principle that Albert Schweitzer declared: "Reverence for life." The postulate was first stated in the book "Culture and Ethics", and subsequently deciphered more than once in other works. It consists in the fact that a person should strive for self-improvement and self-denial, as well as experience "anxiety of constant responsibility." The philosopher himself became the clearest example of life in accordance with this principle. In total, during his life, Schweitzer wrote more than 30 essays and many articles and lectures. Now many of his famous works such as:

• "Philosophy of Culture" in 2 parts;
• "Christianity and World Religions";
• "Religion in Modern Culture"
• "The problem of peace in the modern world".

Awards

The humanist Albert Schweitzer, whose books are still considered a model of the "ethics of the future", received various awards and prizes more than once, which he always spent for the benefit of his hospital and African residents. But his most important award was the Nobel Peace Prize, which he received in 1953. She allowed him to leave the search for money and focus on helping the sick in Africa. For the prize, he rebuilt a leper colony in Gabon and treated the sick for many years. In his speech at the Nobel Prize, Schweitzer urged people to stop fighting, give up nuclear weapons and focus on finding the Human in themselves.

Sayings and quotes

Albert Schweitzer, whose quotes and statements are a real ethical program, thought a lot about the destiny of man and how to make the world a better place. He said: "My knowledge is pessimistic, but my faith is optimistic." This helped him to be realistic. He believed that "Personal example is the only method of persuasion" and with his life convinced people of the need to be compassionate and responsible.

Personal life

Albert Schweitzer was happily married. He met his wife in 1903. She became a faithful companion of her husband in his service to people. Elena graduated from nursing courses and worked with Schweitzer in the hospital. The couple had a daughter, Rena, who continued the work of her parents.

German-French thinker, representative of the philosophy of culture, Protestant

theologian and missionary, physician and musicologist. Laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize (1952).

The initial principle of Schweitzer's worldview is "admiration for life" as the basis

moral renewal of mankind.

Albert Schweitzer was born on January 14, 1875 in the town of Kaysersberg, in Upper

Alsace. He was the second child of Pastor Ludwig Schweitzer and his wife Adele. year

the first child of the Schweitzers, a girl, saw the light earlier. In subsequent years,

Albert Schweitzer appeared three more sisters and a brother. One of the sisters, Emma, ​​has died

in infancy. According to Albert Schweitzer's own testimony, he, like

his sisters and brother had a happy childhood.

Pastor Ludwig Schweitzer led a small Protestant congregation

Kaysersberg There were only a few dozen Lutherans in the town, since

the vast majority of the population were Catholics. The pastor himself was from

Pfaffengofen, in Lower Alsace. His father served there as a teacher and organist. Three

his brothers chose the same profession for themselves. Mother of Albert Schweitzer, née

Schillinger, was the daughter of the priest of the town of Mühlbach, located in the valley

Münster, in Upper Alsace.

Shortly after Albert's birth, his parents moved to Gunsbach.

the French province of Alsace was annexed by Germany as a result of the Franco-

Prussian War of 1871, Schweitzer received German citizenship. his parents

were French, and Albert learned to speak both languages ​​fluently. Under

under the guidance of his father, at the age of five he began to play the piano, four years

a year later, he could sometimes substitute for the organist of the village church.

While attending high school in Münster and later in Mühlhausen, Schweitzer simultaneously

Studied the organ with Eugene Munch. After graduating from school in 1893, he entered

Strasbourg University, where he studied theology and philosophy. First exam in

he passed theology in 1898, at the same time he was awarded a scholarship that gave

Schweitzer the opportunity to study philosophy at the University of Paris (Sorbonne) and

take organ lessons from Vidor In just four months, he wrote

dissertation "The Essence of Faith Philosophy of Religion" and in 1899 became a doctor of philosophy.

Two years later, he received his doctorate in theology with a dissertation on

meaning of the Last Supper.

In 1902, Schweitzer was appointed professor at St. Thomas Theological College, and

a year later he became its director. In addition to lecturing, Schweitzer

played the organ and was engaged in scientific work Schweitzer's main theological work

- "The Question of the Historical Jesus" (1906), in which Schweitzer rejected attempts

modernize Jesus or deny him historicity Schweitzer stressed

eschatological nature of the mission of Christ and saw in his sufferings a means

attaining the kingdom of God on earth

At the same time, Schweitzer became the greatest specialist in the work of Bach, a biography

which he published in 1908 (Bach was devoted to his doctoral thesis on

in musicology, defended in Strasbourg three years later). Schweitzer considered

Bach as a religious mystic whose music connected text with "true poems

nature". His book refuted "the pedantic view of Bach's music, supposedly

intellectual and austere,” wrote Rosalyn Turek, “but rejected the romantic

sentimentality with which Bach is accustomed to perform. "Schweitzer was

major expert in organ design. His book on the subject, published in

1906, saved many organs from unjustified modernization

Despite advances in philosophy, theology, and musicology, Schweitzer

felt obligated to fulfill a vow made to himself at the age of 21

of the year. Considering himself indebted to the world, Schweitzer then decided to make art

and science until the age of 30, and then devote himself to "direct service

mankind." An article about the shortage of doctors in Africa, read by him in the magazine

Paris Missionary Society, prompted Schweitzer what to do.

"From now on I was not to speak of the gospel of love," he later explained, "but

put it into practice."

Leaving work in 1905, Schweitzer entered the medical college

University of Strasbourg, reimbursing tuition at the expense of organ

concerts. In 1911 he passed his exams.

In the spring of 1912, Schweitzer refused to teach at the University of Strasbourg,

and also from reading sermons in the church of St. Nicholas. He needed time to

work on the diploma and, moreover, to prepare for the upcoming trip to Africa.

37 years, one might say, is the zenith of a person's life. Schweitzer has so far devoted little

time for the pleasures of life Of course, he went to visit and did not refuse to drink with

friends a glass of Alsatian wine, which he preferred to all others. This

an amiable man of tall stature, of pleasant appearance, was a success with women.

More than one girl was ready to become the life partner of this multi-talented

and such a popular person in the Society.

But, obviously, Schweitzer was unusually demanding not only to himself, but also to

potential girlfriend, and this exactingness excluded any random

connection, for empty flirting he simply felt sorry for the time, which, as

You know he never had enough. Perhaps such restraint was born even

known timidity.

In the spring of 1909, Albert Schweitzer became friends with Helena Breslau, the daughter of

lecturer at the University of Strasbourg Truly, these two found each other.

Elena always sought to help the humiliated, disadvantaged, offended. She

was ready to help Schweitzer in the accomplishment of the daunting task which he

placed in front of him.

Schweitzer and his wife immediately began to prepare for their departure for Africa.

course in tropical medicine in Paris. We had to think carefully about what

medical equipment, what medicines to take with you to Africa. slightest

an oversight, the absence of any surgical instrument or medication

could turn into a tragedy From Europe, all this could be sent only a lot

months later! The Schweitzers also had very limited

By this time, work on the manuscripts had not yet been completed. The second

publication of the book "History of the study of the life of Jesus" In addition, Schweitzer worked on

second part of the "History of the Study of the Doctrine of Paul" and constantly answered

letters from different cities and church communities, the authors of which asked him for advice

on organ building, Albert Schweitzer could not cope with such a volume

work, if he did not have a faithful and intelligent assistant in the person of Elena Breslau.

However, the most urgent task remained writing a dissertation in medicine.

Schweitzer chose an interesting topic for her: "Psychiatric assessment of personality

In 1913, Schweitzer and his wife set sail for Africa, on behalf of the Paris

missionary society, they were to establish a mission hospital in Lambarene

(French Equatorial Africa, now Gabon). The need for his services was

huge. Without receiving medical attention, the natives suffered from malaria, yellow

fever, sleeping sickness, dysentery, leprosy. In the first nine months

Schweitzer received 2,000 patients

In 1917, Schweitzer and his wife, as German subjects, were interned during

France until the end of the First World War. In 1919 their daughter Rena was born.

After his release, Schweitzer spent another seven years in Europe.

exhausted by the need to pay the debts of Lambarene, he worked in

municipal hospital in Strasbourg. In addition, he resumed the organ

concerts. With the help of Archbishop Nathan Söderblu, Schweitzer in 1920 gave

concerts and lectures at Uppsala University and elsewhere.

During these years, Schweitzer developed a system ethical principles, which he called "Respect

to life". He outlined his views in the books "Philosophy of Culture I: Decline and

revival of civilization" and "Philosophy of culture 1G Culture and ethics",

“The definition of ethics seems to me like this,” explained Schweitzer, “That

sustains and prolongs life - well, that which damages and disrupts life,

Badly. Deep and universal ethics have the meaning of religion. She is religion."

Reverence for life, Schweitzer continued, "requires everyone to sacrifice a particle

your life for others."

Schweitzer was going to Lambarin again. There was one important problem that

for a long time called into question Schweitzer's plans: his wife, for health reasons

Africa was contraindicated, not to mention the fact that she had to raise

five-year-old daughter Rena Spouses Schweitzer

I had to make a harsh decision - about separation for many years And only thanks to

the fact that Elena understood the importance of her husband's plan and, being in Europe,

actively helped him in everything, Schweitzer managed to re-create, and subsequently

and to expand the world famous hospital in Lambarene. Together with Emma

Martin, she superbly organized the ongoing assistance to the hospital from Europe. So

Thus, the merit of Helena Schweitzer in the implementation of the cause, to which he devoted his

her husband's life is very long

In 1923, in the Upper Black Forest, in the town of Königsfeld, Schweitzer built a house

for his wife and child He did not want to leave for Africa until the house was ready.

He spent a lot of time with the builders. Often, rolling up his sleeves, he himself took on

work. With the same backpack on his back, he came on a bicycle to

construction site, bypassing the French border. At that time, post-war

Germany was experiencing a period of acute inflation, and the builders were happy with a piece of meat

and even more bread than any reward in worthless cash

signs. Departure for Africa was scheduled for early 1924. Back in

Lambarene, Schweitzer found the hospital in ruins. His new hospital is gradually

turned into a complex of 70 buildings, its staff included doctors and nurses from

the number of volunteers. The complex was built as a typical African village,

electricity was provided only to operating rooms. Roaming around freely

animals, and family members were allowed to care for the sick during

convalescence. Schweitzer's goal was to inspire the confidence of the natives by helping them

under familiar conditions. By the early 1960s at the Schweitzer Hospital

housed 500 people.

Schweitzer alternated periods of work in Africa with trips to Europe, during which

gave lectures, gave concerts to raise funds for the hospital. He was

received many awards.

In 1928, the city of Frankfurt awarded him the Goethe Prize, paying tribute to

"Goethian spirit" of Schweitzer and his service to humanity

When the war broke out in Europe in 1939, the medicines for Lambarene became

come from USA, Australia, New Zealand. After the war, the flow of goods

After the war, the scientist met with Albert Einstein. Schweitzer assured Einstein,

that reason and moral principles will prevail over blind destructive

instincts that there would be profound changes in world public opinion,

which must inevitably lead to the abandonment of

In 1951, Schweitzer received the Peace Prize of the West German Association

book publishers and booksellers. In the same year he was elected a member of the French

academy.

In 1953, Schweitzer was in Lambarin when the news came that he had been awarded

Nobel Peace Prize. Representative of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Gunnar

Yang noted: "Schweitzer showed that a person's life and his dream can merge

together. His work breathed life into the concept of brotherhood, his words reached

minds of countless people and left a salutary trace there. "Schweitzer could not

leave his duties in Africa to attend the ceremony

awards, so he accepted the award

French Ambassador to Norway With money received from the Nobel Committee,

Schweitzer built a leper colony near the hospital in Lambarene In late 1954

Nobel lecture "Problems of the World" In it, he expressed his conviction that

humanity must renounce wars for ethical reasons, since "war

makes us guilty of the crime of inhumanity" According to him, only then,

"when the ideal of the world takes root in the human mind, one can expect an effective

work of institutions designed to protect the world"

In 1957, Schweitzer issued a "Declaration of Conscience" broadcast over the radio from

Oslo In it, he called on all the ordinary people of the world to unite and demand from

their governments to ban nuclear weapons tests Shortly thereafter 2

Thousands of US Scientists Sign Petition to End Nuclear Tests

Bertrand Russell and Canon Collins in England launched a campaign for nuclear

disarmament

In 1958, arms control negotiations began, which lasted five years.

later culminated in a formal superpower test ban treaty

Schweitzer's activity was evaluated differently. Some considered him a medical

practice in the jungle as a waste of talent, others accused him of fleeing from

life Gerald McKnight in the book "Schweitzer's Verdict" called Lambarene a place where

Schweitzer could exercise absolute power Many journalists believed

Schweitzer's paternalistic attitude towards patients is a reminiscence of times

missionary Critics also noted his lack of understanding of nationalist aspirations

spoke about the low level of sanitation at the Schweitzer Hospital Despite this, many

(especially in America) saw in Schweitzer a saint of the 20th century Thanks to public

speeches and photographs in the press, he was recognized all over the world. One of

visitors to Lambarene especially noted his hands "with huge sensitive fingers,

who sewed up the wound with the same skill, repaired the roof, played Bach on the organ,

wrote down words about the significance of Goethe for civilization in a period of decline"

The last thing Schweitzer did during his lifetime for the cause of peace was to sign for a few

days before his death, with a completely disobedient hand, the appeal of the Nobel Prize winners

bonuses to the heads of governments of the largest states with a demand to immediately

stop the criminal war in Vietnam The text of the appeal was sent to him by a well-known

American scientist and peace activist Linus Pauling Pauling urged Schweitzer to

sending the appeal signed by him, and the ninety-year-old man himself carried the package to

departing from Lambarene river steamer

He was in no hurry to go back to the house, but, returning, he lay down on his almost camp bed,

asked to put on a long-playing record of Bach's fugues and preludes and

didn't get up anymore

wife, who died in 1957. The management of the hospital passed to their daughter

Life, according to Schweitzer, as the most intimate of what nature has created,

demands the greatest respect for himself "The ethics of reverence for

life, - wrote Schweitzer, - does not distinguish between life higher or lower,

more valuable or less valuable" It is impossible to neglect the primitive

life forms, mindlessly destroying them Who knows what value this or that

branch of the eternal tree of life in the universe9 The moral principle of reverence for

life, which was formulated by Schweitzer at the very beginning of our century, now

is fundamental in the formation of a new branch of knowledge - ecological

ethics The relationship and interdependence of various forms of life in the environment around us

world should determine such relations between them, which are aimed at

the preservation and improvement of life in general, otherwise its progressive development

impossible. Therefore, morality is not only the law of life, but also its condition.

existence and development

Morality is also an objective condition for the formation, development and

normal functioning of society "Only thanks to the moral attitude towards

to all living things we achieve a spiritual connection with the Universe"

If there are still extraterrestrial civilizations, a possible contact between them and

terrestrial civilization was seen by Albert Schweitzer as an act of mutual understanding,

mutual trust and mutual assistance It is no coincidence that the famous Dutch mathematician X

Freudenthal laid the basis for the language of space communications not only

logical, mathematical, but also moral symbols, rightly believing

universal moral laws With his teaching on reverence for life

Schweitzer, along with K Tsiolkovsky, laid the foundations for the space ethics of the future

Schweitzer's ethics are concrete. One of its principles is "man to man" _ Just

and is aimed at ensuring that each of us helps others, near and far, helps

concrete deed - materially, morally, compassion, mercy and salvation

The principle "fate obliges" requires greater returns from those who are healthy and strong,

wealthy and successful, talented and active, in favor of the sick and suffering,

infirm, unable to be active

For more than half a century, the doctor Albert Schweitzer treated patients, leaving no literary

work and philosophical reflection, leaving as soon as it became possible,

with concerts to Europe And the people of the modern African state of Gabon

keeps the memory of a man who came to their land not to rob, not to enrich himself, but

sympathize and help

Schweitzer never counted himself among the ranks of the prophets, he got angry when he was told

that much of what he foresaw is coming true

His favorite motto is Goethe's "In the beginning it was business." Maybe that's why

spiritual and material, word and deed are inseparable in his life. People are tired of

slogans and promises, tired of waiting for the unrealizable creation of tomorrow's "city-

garden" Human life short, and today we should all get busy doing,

work in such a way that a unique event - the emergence of a new person in the world - does not

overshadowed by violence, famine, war, or the progressive dying of nature

Albert Schweitzer urged humanity to this lofty goal

SCHWEITZER, ALBERT (1875–1965), theologian, philosopher, musician and physician. Born January 14, 1875 in Kaysersberg (Upper Alsace, in those years the territory of Germany) in the family of a poor Lutheran pastor. He spent his childhood in the village of Gunsbach in the Münster valley (near Colmar), from an early age he learned to play the organ, attended a real school in Munster, a gymnasium in Mühlhausen. In 1883 he entered the University of Strasbourg, where he attended lectures by V. Windelband. After graduating from the university he defended his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (1899) and licentiate of theology (1900). He defended his habilitation (that is, giving the right to teach) work on theology in 1902. During his studies, he regularly traveled to Paris, where he took lessons in playing the organ and piano. In Strasbourg, he played a lot on the organ in the church of St. Wilhelm. He was fond of the music of J.S. Bach and R. Wagner. He played the organs in Berlin, Paris and other European cities. In 1902 he was appointed assistant parish pastor in Strasbourg, and in 1903 he headed the St. Thomas. He was engaged in teaching activities, lectured on Schopenhauer, Hartmann, Sudermann, Goethe, Nietzsche and other thinkers. He published in French the work of J.S. Bach, musician and poet (J.S. Bach, musicien-poite, 1905), in 1908 a revised and expanded edition in German was published under the title Johann Sebastian Bach. This book, as well as the History of the study of the life of Jesus (Geschichte der Leben-Jesu-Forschuung, 2nd edition 1913; the first edition appeared in 1906 under the title From Reimarus to Wrede (Von Reimarus zu Wrede) brought him wide fame.

In his autobiography, published in 1931, Schweitzer wrote: “One morning in Günsbach, I said to myself that up to the age of thirty I consider myself entitled to preach, study science and music, but after this milestone I will devote myself directly to serving people.” Schweitzer never participated in "social" activities, he thought of himself outside the existing real world and did not seek to change it; he created his own picture of the world - one in which he could live in accordance with his own ideas. By the time Schweitzer reached the age of 30, he was a well-known theologian, teacher and preacher, a recognized expert on J.S. Bach and organ building. Nevertheless, he left his favorite activities and began to study medicine. For many years, his slogan was: "First I must cure people, and only then carry the word of God to them." After completing a course at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Strasbourg (1905–1912), Schweitzer received a doctorate in medicine (1913, the topic of his dissertation was Psychiatric Evaluation of the Personality of Jesus) and, having collected minimal funds to organize a sanitary station, went to Africa. In 1913, he managed to create a hospital in the village of Lambarene on the Ogove River in the French colony of French Equatorial Africa (in the province of Gabon, at that time the French Congo, later the Republic of Gabon).

During the First World War, as an Alsatian, and therefore a German subject, he was interned and sent to a camp in France. In 1918, after the transfer of Alsace-Lorraine to the French state, Schweitzer took French citizenship. For some time he performed with organ concerts and lectures in Europe, raised funds that allowed him to pay off his debts, corrected his health, which had deteriorated in the French camps, and resumed work on philosophical works. Schweitzer was especially popular in Sweden, where many people from all over the country flocked to his lectures. Since that time, a kind of "cult of Schweitzer" began, thanks to which for many years it was possible to maintain the activities of the hospital in Lambarin. Schweitzer's markedly spartan lifestyle contributed to the cost savings. In 1923, the book Culture and Ethics, begun in Gabon, was published, in which the thinker expressed his main idea.

Analyzing the current state European culture, Schweitzer wondered why the worldview, based on a life-affirming beginning, from the originally moral turned into immoral. “This can only be explained by the fact that this worldview did not have true roots in theoretical thought. The ideas that gave birth to him were noble, emotional, but not deep. They did not so much prove the fact of the connection between the ethical principle and the life-affirming principle as intuitively grasped it. Therefore, while maintaining a life-affirming and moral principle, theoretical thought did not really explore either one or the other, or the inner connection between them.

The idea, embracing both life-affirmation and ethics, was the Schweitzer concept of “reverence for life”, the monument of which was the hospital built in Lambarin by the philosopher’s own hands. Schweitzer wrote: "I am the life that wants to live, in the midst of other lives that want to live." The result of this "life-affirmation is his spiritual act ... in the course of which a person stops living as he has to and begins to surrender to life with reverence in order to discover its true value." “At the same time, a man who has now become a thinker feels the need to treat any will to life with the same reverence as his own. He feels another life as part of his own. He considers it a blessing to save life, to help her; to raise to a higher level a life capable of development; evil - to destroy life, to harm it, to suppress life capable of development. This is the main absolute principle of ethics.

Among other works in which he developed this idea are the Decline and Rebirth of Culture. Philosophy of Culture (Verfall und Wiederaufbau der Kultur. Kultur und Ethik, 1923); Mysticism of the Apostle Paul (Die Mystik des Apostels Paulus, 1930); Schweitzer's autobiography From My Life and My Thoughts (Aus meinem Leben und Denken, 1931); The worldview of Indian thinkers. Mysticism and Ethics (Die Weltanschauung der indischen Denker. Mystik und Ethik, 1935).

Schweitzer, in his pragmatic way, remarked that “personal example is not just the best method of persuasion, but the only one.” Often, his ability to convince, forcing people to donate sometimes significant amounts to support the hospital, caused irritation and accusations of self-promotion, the desire to make himself a symbol of mercy. At some point he was labeled a "monster of mercy". In February 1924, the thinker again went to Africa. The completely destroyed hospital had to be rebuilt in another place, but this time Schweitzer had more volunteers. Soon several doctors and nurses from Europe arrived. All who arrived in Lambarene refused to receive a salary or any other remuneration. By 1927 a new hospital was built, which could receive a much larger number of patients. Soon the village of Lambarene gained world fame, and Schweitzer bitterly stated that "truth also has to be organized."

In July 1927, Schweitzer returned to Europe, where he continued lecturing and performing in concert. In Europe, he was expected to be recognized, awarded honorary prizes and titles by major universities. For the Goethe Prize, Schweitzer built a house in Günsbach, which became a resting place for Lambarene's staff, and later a memorial to the thinker. During the 1930s, he made numerous trips to Africa, overseeing the ever-expanding hospital, which had become a major treatment facility. Despite the hardships of wartime, Schweitzer's hospital survived the Second world war while continuing to operate as before. Schweitzer was able to return to Europe only in 1948, having stayed in Lambarin for ten long years. In 1949, at the invitation of the University of Chicago, he visited the United States. In the 1950s, the thinker began to enjoy a truly world-wide fame - educational institutions, streets and even ships were named after him. In 1953, Schweitzer won the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, and with the funds received, he built a leper village near Lambarene. In 1957, he delivered an "Appeal to Humanity", urging governments to stop testing nuclear weapons, and in the future did not stop reminding him of the atomic threat. After Schweitzer left for Lambarene for good in 1959, the hospital town became a place of pilgrimage for many people from all over the world.