 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
It is difficult to agree with Dr. Schweitzer in the importance which he attaches to ethical opinions as a cause. ..
Speaking causally, our ethics are an effect of our actions, not vice versa; instead of practicing what we preach, we find it more convenient to preach what we practice. When our practice leads us to disaster we tend to alter it, and at the same time to alter our ethics; but the alteration of our ethics is not the cause of our alteration of our practice.
Source: Nation and Athenaeum, v.34: 2 Feb. 1924, pp.635-636.
* Review of A. Schweitzer's Civilization and Ethics (=The Philosophy of Civilization, pt.2)
* Also in: Dial, v.76,n.4: 1924, p.353-356.
More info.: Not available.