Episode #172 - Simone Weil - Attention
Simone Weil - Attention
This episode introduces Simone Weil as a rare example of a philosopher whose life embodied her ideas, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to living by the values she believed in. Beginning with her academic achievements at the École Normale Supérieure—where she outscored Simone de Beauvoir—the episode highlights key moments of Weil’s life that set her apart: her refusal to eat more than those in the French resistance, her time working in a factory to understand labor firsthand, and her participation in the Spanish Civil War. Central to her philosophy is the concept of “attention,” a practice of open, non-possessive awareness that transforms how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. Weil believed that true education and ethical progress arise not from seeking answers but from cultivating the right orientation toward experience. The episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Weil’s ideas by contrasting political revolution with spiritual transformation, urging listeners to consider the profound impact of intentional attention in both personal and collective life.
Recommended Reading
The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity – Roy Porter (1997)
The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction – William Bynum (2008)
The Cambridge History of Medicine – Roy Porter (2006)
See the full transcript here.
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