Isgard Ohls
Improvisationen der Ehrfurcht vor allem Lebendigen – Albert Schweitzers Ästhetik der Mission
1. Edition 2008
463 pages
ISBN 978-3-89971-505-7
V&R unipress
plus S&H
Book
This study presents a contribution to a previously less well-studied part of the scientific discussion of Albert Schweitzer: Schweitzer’s understanding of missionary activities in the light of his thoughts on ethics and esthetics. The volume incorporates previously unpublished materials on this theme, making them available to a broader audience. Schweitzer himself called his missionary center Lambarene an »improvisation of his ethical position of reverence for human life«. With this thought he claimed to have found the source of motivation and agency that goes beyond the boundaries of cultures, peoples, and religions to enable humans everywhere at the beginning of the 20th century to give themselves in the service of love for all living things. Lambarene exists to the present day as a shining symbol. But what can we learn for our present situation from the dialog of mission, ethics, esthetics, and art exemplified by Albert Schweitzer some 100 years ago? Lambarene means »Let us try!« Albert Schweitzer remains to this day a continual challenge to us all.