Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer was a French-German theologian, philosopher, physician, and musician. He founded a hospital in Gabon and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 for his humanitarian work.

Early Life and Education

Schweitzer was born in 1875 in Kaysersberg, in Alsace, then part of Germany. He studied theology and philosophy at Strasbourg and in Paris.

He was a talented musician and studied the organ. He became an authority on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

He was appointed a lecturer in theology and a preacher. He was also the principal of a theological seminary.

The Decision to Study Medicine

Schweitzer decided at the age of thirty to devote his life to the service of others. He resolved to study medicine and to work in Africa.

He studied medicine at Strasbourg and qualified as a doctor. He raised money for the hospital and prepared for his departure.

He sailed for French Equatorial Africa in 1913 and founded a hospital at Lambaréné. He treated patients and trained local staff.

The Hospital at Lambaréné

The hospital was a simple facility and treated a large number of patients. Schweitzer and his staff cared for the sick and worked to improve the health of the community.

He was interned during the First World War and later returned to Europe. He raised funds for the hospital by lecturing and by giving organ recitals.

He returned to Lambaréné and expanded the hospital. The facility became a model of medical care in the region.

The Philosophy

Schweitzer developed a philosophy based on the principle of reverence for life. He argued that ethics consists in the preservation and the enhancement of life.

He wrote on the philosophy of civilisation and on the problem of the historical Jesus. His book The Quest of the Historical Jesus was influential.

He was a critic of the modern world and of its materialism. He called for a renewal of ethical life and for a respect for all living things.

The Music

Schweitzer was a celebrated interpreter of Bach. He wrote a study of the composer and edited his organ works.

He gave organ recitals throughout Europe and used the proceeds to support the hospital. He was regarded as one of the finest organists of his time.

He wrote on the construction of organs and on the performance of Bach's music. His work influenced the revival of interest in the Baroque composer.

The Nobel Prize and the Later Life

Schweitzer received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. He used the prize money to expand the hospital at Lambaréné.

He campaigned against nuclear weapons and against the testing of atomic bombs. He was one of the founders of the Pugwash movement.

He died in 1965 at Lambaréné and was buried near the hospital. The hospital continues to operate.

Legacy

Schweitzer is remembered as one of the great humanitarians of the twentieth century. His philosophy of reverence for life has influenced the development of environmental ethics.

His hospital and his work in Africa are a symbol of service and of sacrifice. He was a man of many talents and of deep conviction.

He is remembered for his music and for his medicine. His work continues to inspire those who seek to serve others.

The Bach Studies

Schweitzer wrote a study of Johann Sebastian Bach in 1905. The work is a biography and a criticism of the composer.

He argued that the music should be performed with an understanding of the Baroque instruments and of the theology. The work influenced the performance practice of the period.

He edited the organ works of Bach. The edition is still used by organists.

The Hospital at Lambaréné

Schweitzer founded the hospital at Lambaréné in 1913. The facility was a simple building of corrugated iron.

He treated patients and trained local staff. The hospital expanded to include wards and an operating theatre.

The hospital became a model of medical care in the region. It continues to be operated by the Schweitzer Foundation.

The Philosophy of Civilisation

Schweitzer wrote on the decline of civilisation and on the need for renewal. He argued that the modern world had lost its ethical foundations.

He proposed the principle of reverence for life. The principle applies to all living things and to the whole of creation.

The philosophy influenced the development of environmental ethics. It remains a source of inspiration for humanitarians.

The Musical Career

Schweitzer was an accomplished organist and a scholar of the organ. He gave concerts throughout Europe.

He argued for the reform of the construction of the organ. His writings influenced the builders of the instrument.

He recorded the organ works of Bach. The recordings are admired for their clarity and their understanding of the style.

The Nobel Peace Prize

Schweitzer received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. The award recognised his work at Lambaréné and his philosophy.

He used the prize money to expand the hospital. He also spoke against the nuclear arms race.

He was a critic of the colonialism and of the nuclear weapons. He died in 1965 at Lambaréné.

See also

• Reverence for life
• Medical mission