Jiyoon ChoIDEA English 2Period 3Mr. Mooney

Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer productively conquered the fields of music, religion, medicine, and philosophy

throughout the course of his 90 years.

Schweitzer defined a situation by what he could contribute to improve the whole.

Music Religion Medicine Philosophy

“A secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up.”

~ Albert Schweitzer

•January 14, 1875-September 4, 1965

•Born in Alsace Lorraine

•Raised in an educated family, dad was a Lutheran minister, grandfathers were organ players

•Earned first degree at U. of Strasbourg in 1893

•Taught theology and wrote religious books before moving on to getting his medical degree

•1912 married Jewish Helene Bresslau and had daughter Rhena in 1919

•Won the 1952 Nobel Prize for his hospital in Africa

Background

•Had a connection with the organ•Music was one of the most important aspects of meaning and connection in his life•Worked with the masterpieces of Bach, Wagner, and Widor•He interpreted the symbolic representation in Bach’s religious music•“Music was soon revealed to [Schweitzer] for what it really is: not a mere pastime, but a message of faith and of love.”

Albert Schweitzer: An Introduction by Jacques Feschotte

Passion for Music

•For easier interpretation of Bach’s meaning in his music, he played Bach’s music at a slower speed (On My Life and Thought 68).•His whole music career was built around his perspective on Bach’s music•Music defined its presence in his religion, medicine, and free time•“The creation of the composition itself should not be overshadowed by the instruments” (On My Life and Thought 67).

Music Theory

The Art of Organ-Building and Organ-Playing in Germany and France 1905

Likes the French building technique better than the German

Music in the Life of Albert SchweitzerNot only displays musical perception, but

shows a grasping of mechanical and tonal design

Did not gain much recognition at first, but gained popularity with rising trends in music

J.S. Bach: The Musician-Poet Presented Bach as a religious mystic whose music’s purpose was to understand the force of nature

Music Perception

•His father was a Lutheran priest

•Albert held high administrative posts at the Theological College of St. Thomasin 1900

•The majority of his theological fame lies in The Quest of the Historical Jesus

•He believed that everything and everyone was somehow connected through the works of religion

•“The critical study of the life of Jesus has been for theology a school of honesty” (The Quest of the Historical Jesus 52).

Religion

•Music opened the doors to religion, which led to everything else in his life•He was enlightened by the ideals of the New Testament•“So blessed in world of suffering and sorrow” (The Quest 117).•Upon interpreting Schweitzer’s “Religion in Modern Civilization”, a student connected the ideas of ethics with religion and the ideas of ethics with war

• ( An Interpretation of Dr. Albert Schweitzer's Essay, "Religion In Modern Civilization")

Religious Philosophy

The Quest of the Historical Jesus, Biblical Historical CriticismHistorical Jesus changes with the time period, so he can only be judged based on his convictionsThe Psychiatric Study of Jesus Students studying at the Theological College of St. Thomas sought him out for his Christian labor of healing, as opposed to just preachingThe Mysticism of Paul the ApostleExamined beliefs of Paul and the New Testament “[Jesus’s presence] can neither be shaken nor confirmed by any historical discovery. It is the solid foundation of Christianity” (The Quest 211).

Spreading Religious Thoughts

•He had wanted to join the Society of the Evangelist Missions of Paris in going to Africa so he decided to go to medical school and go as a doctor

•When he went to Africa, he and his wife, Helene, built a hospital at Lambaréné in 1913 in Gabon, a French colony

•He would win the Nobel Prize for this hospital

Call to Medicine

•He was considered a saint of the century for helping in Africa and doing such charitable works (“Albert Schweitzer in the UK”, Munz)

•It was hard to gather money and resources for his missionary work

•1917 he and Helene, his wife, taken as POWs for being Germans in French territory during WWI (Out of My Life 134).

•They were put under supervision at Lamberene by French military, then transported to Switzerland and finally freed in Alsace in 1918

•“It struck me as inconceivable that I should be allowed to lead such a happy life while I saw so many people around me struggling with sorrow and suffering” (Out of My Life 82).

Medical Philanthropy

•In the first year, he had nearly 3000 patients coming from all areas to be treated by him•Albert and local physicians treated tropical diseases, sores, malaria, dysentery, fevers, and leprosy•Performed surgeries, using chloroform and synthesized morphine •His philosophy earned him respect•“Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.”- Schweitzer•1924 Lambaréné grew to be a hospital with native nurses, more doctors, and new buildings

Medical Impact

•Ethics are the basis of civilization, man must choose to create the moral structures of civilization

•Worked for the good of the people and made radical missions

•Used minimal amounts of philosophy jargon except when describing the works of other philosophers

•The reason a set of universal ethics is necessary is because ethical thoughts change over time

Philosophy

•Life follows the principle of respect for every manifestation of life, and a spiritual relationship towards the universe (Reverence for Life 24).

•In The Philosophy of Civilization, he comes up with the most universal system of right and wrong and says that it is good to maintain and encourage life

•His most basic idea on ethics: to become more ethical means to become more sincere

•“A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life which he is able to assist, and shrinks from injuring anything that lives.” - Albert Schweitzer

Reverence for Life

Reverence for LifeEverything is connected on this

planet because of the desire to continue living

Humans are the only ones aware of this, and that brings about the responsibility of actions

The Philosophy of CivilizationScientific material world is ethically

neutral, there must be rebirth of rationalism to rebuild civilization

“His philosophy has shaped attitudes, led to passage of laws and, in many ways, has helped to transform the second half of the 20th century.”

Ann Cottrell Free

Ideal Ethics

•Albert Schweitzer Music Award, part of the Anchor-International Foundation

•At Chapman University, there is the Albert Schweitzer Institute, Exhibit, Award of Excellence, and Scholarships

•The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship chooses medical students to work for 3 months in Africa

•Schweitzer Fellowship at Stanford University allows medical students to design community projects

•Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach

Schweitzer’s interpretations of Bach’s musical pieces along with Schweitzer’s primary concepts

Modern Usage

Albert Schweitzer greatly impacted the lives of his patients, colleagues, and everyone else that was graced by his presence.

His immeasurable success in all the fields he pursued shows his character and strength, along with his willingness to sacrifice for the good of the future.

“The crucial fact about Albert Schweitzer, and that which makes his long life into a profound message to every man, is that in the face of all obstacles a man succeeded so absolutely in developing every one of this potentialities to its utmost limit.”

My Days with Albert Schweitzer by Frederick Franck

Conclusion

Questions?

•"Albert Schweitzer in the UK." Reverence for Life. Friends of Albert Schweitzer. 11 Apr. 2009 <http://albertschweitzer.org.uk/>.

•Holt, Henry. "Oganga from the Ogowe." Time 10 Dec. 1934.

•Kasten, Jennifer. "Albert Schweitzer: His Experience and Example." American Medical Association (2006).

•"The Philosophy of Civilization." Schweitzer Institute. 2007. Chapman University. 11 Apr. 2009 <http://www.chapman.edu>.

•Schweitzer, Albert, and C.T. Campion. Memoirs of Childhood and Youth. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1931.

•Schweitzer, Albert. Out of My Life and Thought. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins UP, 1990.

•Schweitzer, Albert. Reverence for Life. Syracuse: Syracuse UP, 2002.

Works Cited