The Schweitzer Institute Conference 2023: Predrag Cicovacki (College of the Holy Cross)

In The Philosophy of Civilization, Schweitzer offers an ethical approach that he believes would lead to
the restoration of civilisation. He argues that “ethics consists … in my experiencing the compulsion to
show to all will-to-live the same reverence as I do to my own.” Convinced of his approach’s correctness,
Schweitzer announces, “In no other fire than that of mysticism of reverence for life can the broken
sword of idealism be forged anew.” In this paper, I critically examine Schweitzer’s view by looking
closely into his way of reasoning and by searching for constructive ways to develop Schweitzer’s
unorthodox ethical approach further.