Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“This book is an original contribution to Weil studies and beyond because it seeks to apply Simone Weil’s thought to twenty-first century issues directly. It is most welcome and valuable for exactly that reason.” —Vance G. Morgan, author of Weaving the World
"In these finely crafted and richly illuminating essays, renowned Weil scholar Eric Springsted confirms the continuing relevance of Simone Weil’s work for an age in which serious thought about matters of value—ethical, political, religious, and aesthetic—is becoming increasingly rare. This long-awaited book should be essential reading for anyone interested in this extraordinary French thinker." —Mario von der Ruhr, associate editor of Philosophical Investigations
"Springsted explores [Simone Weil's] thought while bringing it into conversation with other philosophers. His discussion of her religious reflections is particularly valuable." —The Irish Catholic
“The book is a product of a lifetime of close and thoughtful engagement with Weil’s writings in which, to some extent, Weil’s thought and Springsted’s have become intertwined, such that it becomes hard to tease one out from the other. He is a guide with something to share not only with those new to Weil’s thought, but those who have explored her highways and byways on many occasions.” —Philosophical Investigations
"This book proposes taking French philosopher Simone Weil as a polestar to inspire and orient thought in the twenty-first century. . . . [it] seeks a broader readership that need not be well versed in her thought. Weil is recommended as a model for leading a thoughtful life of action exemplifying integrity, discipline, and the exercise of attention." —The Review of Metaphysics
"In his book, Simone Weil in the Twenty-First Century, Eric Springsted reveals his thorough knowledge and deep understanding of this French philosopher and mystic. . . . the book does justice to Weil's diverse interests, showing their connections while resisting the temptation to build a system, thus staying true to her own approach." —Theology Today
Table of ContentsPreface
Abbreviations for Weil’s Works
Acknowledgments
A Brief Biography of Simone Weil
I. Philosophical and Theological Thought
1. A Thoughtful Life
2. Mystery and Philosophy
3. The Nature of Grace: Why the Crucifixion Matters
4. Love and Intellect
5. “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine...”
6. Spiritual Apprenticeship
7. A Sacramental Understanding of the World
II. Social and Political Thought
8. What is Sacred in Every Human Being? Simone Weil’s Encounter with Maritain
9. The Language of the Inner Life
10. “Thou Hast Given Me Room”: The Retheologization of the Political
11. The Need for Order and the Need for Roots
12. A Theory of Culture: Inspiration and Its Cultural Outworkings
13. Searching for a New St. Benedict
14. Moral Clarity in War
Conclusion
Bibliography
