The philosophy of civilization. Pt 1, The decay and the restoration of civilization, Pt 2, Civilization and ethics

Albert Schweitzer's social and ethical philosophy is best expressed in The Philosophy of Civilization. Not widely available in recent years, this edition will give contemporary readers the opportunity to discover his prophetic thought. In Book I, The Decay and Restoration of Civilization, Schweitzer argues that the essential feature of every culture is its world view, and that a culture can be healthy and stable only as its world view is optimistic and ethical. Without this outlook, it is impossible to avoid the world's destruction. In Book II, Civilization and Ethics, he reviews the world's major ethical systems in search of the essential principle of "the moral," after which the world and life-affirming ethic of "reverence for life" is set forth. Through Schweitzer's guidance, man will strive for spiritual and ethical self-fulfillment which in turn may be actualized in all the processes of the world, making us a truly civilized people. Schweitzer's ultimate goal is to help us recognize that the source of universal misery and catastrophe is the absence of a theory of the universe. History,Civilization,Philosophy,History & Surveys,General

Ours is a world burgeoning with perennial bumper crops of creative potential, artistic genius, intellectual insight, and conspicuous material affluence. Yet, for decades, much of Western civilization has reaped a bitter harvest of psychological malaise, identity crises, conflicts of purpose, social anxiety, collective frustration, and chronic economic despair. In this fascinating and highly sensitive work, Albert Schwietzer - one of the most compelling social philosophers of this century - analyzes the human condition and offers his thoughts on its recovery through the collective consciousness of life-affirmation grounded on ethical values.

"In this fascinating and highly sensitive work, Albert Schweitzer - one of the most compelling social philosophers of this century - analyzes the human condition and offers his thoughts on its recovery through the collective consciousness of life-affirmation grounded on ethical values."--Page 4 of cover. Albert Schweitzer's social and ethical philosophy is expressed in this book. It gives contemporary readers the opportunity to discover his prophetic thought.