Simone Weil (Modern Spiritual Masters Series)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction
Review: Simone Weil was, among other things,a mystic,philospher,worker,intellectual and, in an odd way, a martyr. Her philosophy is dense,often lending itself to repeated readings. Her concepts are difficult,though worthwhile to say the very least. Simone Weil writings in this volume,which are very well edited by Eric O. Springsted{the president of the simone weil society},are from the later period of her life. She lived only until her thirities, though, like most saints and genius",she left an inordinate amount for those of us to follow. He philospohy here dpeneds heavily on what she calls the necessary or necessity{sort of natural cause and effect,as it were} though then which is far from an uncaring God or watchmaker who began the universe then sits idly by. This is the core of her philosophy and is quite obtuse at times. The writings on the Need of suffering are illuminating,her statement on what a jst society should be is vital and fresh. Simone Weil understood that modern technology had rendered many poeples lifelong way of life obsolete, therefore denying them of not only a right livelihood, but also their spiritual well being. The well oiled mechanism that is [was] capitalism was at that momet[along with its equally vaccuous counterpart Marxism] laying waste to the soul of Europe{and by proxy, the West}. Weil offered suggestions,and possible solutions,by her life. She lived the life she worte about as well as she was able. A truly extraordinary human being,and one to whom I will always be in debt. This is a superb introduction to the life and work of the truly astonishing woman.