A reverence for life ( him. Ehrfurcht vor dem Leben ) - the principle of ethical teachings of Albert Schweitzer , the German philosopher and humanist , Nobel Peace Prize winner .
The essence of this principle is “to show equal reverence for life, both in relation to my will to life, and in relation to any other” [1] . The principle of reverence for life, according to the author, conveys the essence of the ethical more precisely than compassion or even love, as it connects self-improvement with self-denial and affirms the anxiety of constant responsibility. [2]
 | Good is that which serves the preservation and development of life, evil is that which destroys life or hinders it.Albert Schweitzer |  |
This principle was formulated by Schweitzer during his journey along the African River Ogow and was first set forth in 1915 in the book Culture and Ethics, and later was constantly mentioned in other works of the philosopher: “The problem of ethics in the development of human thinking”, “Humanity”, "The doctrine of reverence for life." Reverence for life is more than the basic principle of morality, it is essentially its only principle, as it sets the program for the life of individuals in the form of direct actions that do not require any specific norms and intermediate ethical authorities. [2]
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Notes
- ↑ Schweizer A. Culture and ethics. M., 1973
- ↑ 1 2 A. A. Guseinov New Philosophical Encyclopedia: In 4 vols. M .: Thought. Edited by V. Stepin. 2001.