Contemplify Simone Weil: Attention, the Agent of Love with Eric O. Springsted
Jul 30, 2016
In a thought-provoking conversation, philosopher Eric O. Springsted delves into Simone Weil's life and her revolutionary ideas on attention and love. He discusses how Weil's contemplative stance critiques modern education's focus on testing, emphasizing the necessity of suspending judgment to uncover truth. Springsted shares personal anecdotes about discovering Weil's work and highlights her commitment to moral truth through hardship and affliction. Their discussion also touches on Weil's spiritual journey, her influence in education, and her enduring relevance in today's world.
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Attention As Prayer
- Simone Weil defines attention as suspending judgment and letting the object reveal itself without anticipation.
- Eric Springsted links this educational attention directly to the highest form of prayer as listening to God.
Prioritize Inner Formation
- Simone Weil would be appalled by modern education's focus on testing and outer success over inner formation.
- Try prioritizing practices that cultivate attention and inner development in schooling.
A Seminary Recommendation That Changed Course
- Eric first encountered Weil at Princeton Theological Seminary when Diogenes Allen recommended her to him.
- That introduction shifted his academic trajectory from Plato to a lifelong engagement with Simone Weil.
