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Philosophize This!

Episode #172 ... Simone Weil - Attention

Nov 21, 2022
Explore the extraordinary life of philosopher Simone Weil and her unique perspective on attention and ethical integrity. Discover her commitment to open-mindedness versus rigid agendas, emphasizing the importance of focused engagement. Uncover her experiences during the Spanish Civil War and the critique of worker dehumanization. The discussion highlights the balance between political activism and spiritual growth in the face of human suffering.
37:54

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Simone Weil emphasized the importance of attention as a crucial skill to navigate life and improve the world.
  • Simone Weil challenged the traditional structure of education and sought to create a more open and receptive environment for students to explore and discover knowledge.

Deep dives

Simone Vay's Academic Journey and Revolution

Simone Vay, a young student, was accepted into one of the most prestigious universities in France. Despite being one of the 11 accepted students, she was the only woman. Simone Vay emphasized the importance of a revolution to address famine and feed starving people, while her peer Simone de Beauvoir believed the focus should be on finding meaning in existence. Simone Vay's commitment to living philosophy rather than just theorizing was evident as she refused to compromise her ethical integrity, even starving herself to death.

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