The decay and the restoration of civilization

Description

About this book

“The Decay and the Restoration of Civilization: The Philosophy of Civilization” by Albert Schweitzer is a philosophical treatise written in the early 20th century. The work examines the crisis facing modern society, arguing that civilization has become hollowed out by a neglect of ethical foundations and an overemphasis on material, historical, and technical progress. The opening of this treatise sets forth Schweitzer’s perspective that civilization is in deep crisis, not merely due to recent catastrophes like war, but because of a long-standing neglect of foundational ethical thinking. He critiques modern philosophy for abandoning its role as the guide to civilization's development, instead becoming scholastic, fragmented, and disconnected from pressing moral questions. Schweitzer traces how historical, economic, and organizational changes have diminished individual freedom, self-reflection, and humanity, leading to over-specialization, loss of independent moral judgment, and the subjugation of individual personality to mass opinion and institutional structures.