The Religious Metaphysics of Simone Weil (Simone Weil Studies

by Miklos Veto, Joan Dargan (Translator)

Simone Weil is one of the major religious writers of the twentieth century. Hers is a unique blend of spiritual experience, social concern, and philosophical theory. She had marvelous command of the Western philosophical tradition, yet she also had profound insights into Oriental philosophies.

Since its publication in France, Veto's book has been considered by most scholars as the standard work on Simone Weil. Now this important book is available in English. It is the only available reconstruction of the entire philosophy of Simone Weil. It operates out of the perspective of the spiritual concerns of her maturity, yet it never fails to return to the issues and the positions of the early texts. It carries out the reconstruction according to some major philosophical themes, but gives its due share to the French thinkers' social and political preoccupations as well. The book is erudite, yet simple, written in a clear, concise and yet often eloquent language.

Genres: Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion

219 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive attempt to grapple with the myriad inconsistencies in Weil's thought. Veto's book remains the original and definitive introduction to her work, shown by the continued defence of his interpretation by Chenavier et al. It is tempting to blame Veto for the book's vacillations around the question of whether Weil's philosophy is an abandonment of this life, but this represents a genuine uncertainty which Weil herself seems never to have decided upon. Is there anything redeemable in this life eviscerated from God, does unity with God redeem this life, or is our distance from God closed only when we perceive his absence, which is also his essence? In general I find questions in theology and the philosophy of religion droll and uninformative, but there is much in these questions that pertains even to the work of today's post-secular philosophies.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to make a systemic view out of Weil's fragmented thoughts is a colossal tour de force, one that was successfully achieved here.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

A scholarly interpretation of Weil's beliefs...not engaging enough for the casual reader. I doubt that I would have stuck with it unless I had read some of her writings first.