The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Ep. 225: Simone Weil on War and Oppression (Part Two)
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Sep 16, 2019 
Simone Weil and Corey Mohler discuss the self-contradictions of power, the intractability of oppression and war, and Weil's positive solution. They explore Weil's critique of oppression and force in societies, her interpretation of the Iliad and Nietzsche's Birth of Tragedy, and the achievements and controversial death of Simone Vi. They also discuss empathy, devotion, gratitude, and farewell, ending with a song about surrender and seeking hope.
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Technology and Persistent Oppression
- Technological progress increases productivity but not workers' leisure.
- Increased surplus often exacerbates inequality and oppression due to power struggles.
Revolutions and Power Structures
- Advanced production consolidates power in owners, intensifying wealth divide.
- Real revolutions replace oppressors but rarely dismantle systems of power.
Limits of Revolutions to End Oppression
- Revolutions historically replace one oppression with another.
- Genuine liberation requires changing the conditions of force, not just structures.