Albert Schweitzer

Background

Albert was most devoted to spreading a universal ethical philosophy to all of humanity. He grew up in an environment of religious tolerance in Europe, and developed a belief that true religion works toward the unity of purpose and faith. He completed a theology degree in 1899.

He also became a musical scholar and organist. In 1905 Albert was one of six (6) musicians who founded the Paris Bach Society. This was a choir dedicated to performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He also developed a technique for recording the performances of Bach's music, which became known as "The Schweitzer Technique".

In 1903 Albert became the Principal of the Theological College of Saint Thomas from which he had graduated. He was devoted to serving humanity. He wrote and published several books including The Quest of the Historical Jesus, which became famous in the English speaking world. He became a New Testament scholar.

Schweitzer became a medical doctor in 1911 with the intention of spreading his religious convictions, not by preaching, but by the process of healing. He was a philosopher-scientist throughout his medical work. He performed concerts and other fund raising activities to furnish a small hospital in Gabon, Africa (then a French colony). He treated a variety of diseases including sleeping sickness. His wife, Helene Schweitzer, was an anaesthetist for surgical operations.

During World War I, being Germans in a French Colony, they were detained by the French military, and eventually returned to Europe at the end of the war. He had his parents’ former French citizenship reinstated, and became a French citizen. He then worked on his project on The Philosophy of Civilization. He returned to Gabon in 1924 without his wife.

He helped establish a new hospital, and put a medical team in place. He then returned to Europe in 1927. His opinions and concepts continued to be acknowledged in Europe and around the world.

Albert Schweitzer was a harsh critic of colonialism, and he had this to say of his work as a doctor in Africa: "Our culture divides people into two classes: civilized men, a title bestowed on the persons who do the classifying; and others, who have only the human form, who may perish or go to the dogs for all the 'civilized men' care."

"Oh, this 'noble' culture of ours! It speaks so piously of human dignity and human rights and then disregards this dignity and these rights of countless millions and treads them underfoot, only because they live overseas or because their skins are of different color or because they cannot help themselves. This culture does not know how hollow and miserable and full of glib talk it is, how common it looks to those who follow it across the seas and see what it has done there, and this culture has no right to speak of personal dignity and human rights..."

Major Impact On Others

His life was portrayed in the 1952 movie “Il est minuit, Docteur Schweitzer”. Actor Hugh O’Brian was so inspired by Albert when he visited Africa, that he founed the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation upon returning to the USA.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer was award the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952, and his "The Problem of Peace" lecture is considered one of the best speeches ever given. From that point until his death he worked against nuclear tests and nuclear weapons with Otto Hahn, Albert Einstein, and Bertrand Russell.

Schweitzer was one of the founders of The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy in 1957. On April 23, 1957, Albert made his "Declaration of Conscience" speech; it was broadcast to the world over Radio Oslo, asking for the abolition of nuclear weapons. He ended his speech, saying:"The end of further experiments with atom bombs would be like the early sunrays of hope which suffering humanity is longing for."

Albert Schweitzer was a man governed by the core principles of justice and the ethical treatment of all life. This was best represented by his personal philosophy of the Reverence for Life. He saw Western civilization decaying as a result of its abandonment of respect for all life as its ethical foundation. There is much we can learn from this gentleman, and he is truly a positive role model for us all.

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