TY - BOOK ID - 77893630 TI - The new rationalism PY - 2013 SN - 0773588140 9780773588141 9780773541085 077354108X PB - Montreal McGill-Queen's University Press DB - UniCat KW - Schweitzer, Albert, KW - Shuvaitsā, Aruberuto, KW - Shveĭt︠s︡er, Alʹbert, KW - Ethics. KW - PHILOSOPHY / Religious. KW - Ethics, Modern KW - Philosophy. UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:77893630 AB - Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) preached a message of reverence for life - all life - that touched the hearts of a generation. As a medical doctor in French Equatorial Africa who selflessly helped those in need, Schweitzer was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in the wake of two world wars. But less than fifty years since the time of his death, the great humanitarian and scholar has faded from public awareness. In The New Rationalism, David Goodin explores the underlying philosophy behind Schweitzer's ethic of compassion, presenting it as a response to contemporary questions in social justice, economic equality, and environmental action. For the first time, the political, sociological, and philosophical contexts supporting the development of Schweitzer's ethic are examined in order to bring his timeless message of elemental morality to new life for the modern world. Inspired by Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche, Schweitzer built his ethic to create an elemental nature philosophy compatible with empirical science, and to support a new ontological understanding of the human person - a project he termed the New Rationalism. Goodin recovers and analyzes Schweitzer's arguments and shows where his theories can provide a framework for both environmental and civic ethics today. ER -