From reverence for life to bioethics: Albert Schweitzer, a bioethics precursor

摘要

Precursor only exists, as a precursor, when related to recognized and posterior author. In terms of thoughts, a precursor didn’t precede, he coexist. One marvelous example of coexistence is Albert Schweitzer and Fritz Jahr. Jahr is not a Potter precursor; he coined Bioethics as a word. Jahr is the founder. He made a rupture in the history of Ethics, when he proposed the Bioethics Imperative. I will present some highlights related to Bioethics, in the vast and diverse intellectual production of Albert Schweitzer. The Ethics of the Reverence for Life, first coined in a sermon in 1919, is based in Virtue Ethics. Reverence for Life is another kind of love, as a virtue. Reverence for Life is beyond self-sacrifice, self-fulfillment and self-improvement, is a creative force related to civilization. In 1923, in a magnificent book is – Civilization and Ethics – Albert Schweitzer described his proposal in details. In an article, published in 1936 he consolidated his thoughts about humanity, civilization, ethics, life and living. We must recognize the importance of Albert Schweitzer in the history of Bioethics.