The “Open Letters” about Goodness for the World

The article is a preface to the translation of two Strasbourg sermons on reverence for life de­livered by Albert Schweitzer in midst difficult time, harsh both himself and world. Schweitzer’s return from Africa internment, Paris Peace Conference eve Versailles Treaty went along with fear new means destruction. In Feb­ruary 1919 sermons, tries rehabilitate Christian morality, which has been reduced nothingness. response Nietzsche’s “God dead”, Dr. speaks perception based true reason heart, referring idea whole Human­ity. basis ethics, foundation all should be mysterious incomprehensible phenomenon noble feeling it. When doctri­naire morality turns out helpless face real possibility that mankind will destructed its own technical power, it becomes great simple commandment, resisting concept superman. ideas are tune works Russian philosophers (Vladimir Solovyov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Fyodorov), who urged actively overcome death. second sermon, an ambivalent live, temptations deep contradictions moral conscious­ness forced make choice favor this or life, need active com­passion living beings. four years before publication Cul­ture Ethics, focuses ethical issue, first ones, delivered February, embody his principle life.