Philosophize This!
Episode #175 ... Simone Weil - Vessels of God
Feb 2, 2023
Dive into the compelling ideas of Simone Weil as they dissect the dynamic interplay between willpower and attention. Discover how this balance is key to self-transformation and personal growth. The discussion challenges conventional notions of strength while illuminating practical ways to enhance awareness and presence. Uncover the relationship between acts of goodness and universal truth in a thought-provoking exploration of self-improvement.
28:00
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Quick takeaways
- Attention is crucial for achieving real self-transcendence and cultivating virtues like inner purity, inspiration, and truth of thought.
- While willpower is effective for physical tasks and discipline, attention is the key to understanding virtue, creativity, and truth and connecting with universal truths beyond our limited perspectives.
Deep dives
The Importance of Willpower and Attention for Self-Transformation
Simone Vey discusses the different approaches to self-transformation, particularly the common belief in the Western world that willpower and discipline are the keys to personal growth. She questions whether other important skills, such as attention, need to be developed as well. Vey emphasizes the limitations of the will and the need for attention in cultivating virtues like inner purity, inspiration, and truth of thought. She argues that attention is crucial for achieving real self-transcendence and recommends breaking down assumptions and cultivating open-mindedness to change negative attitudes towards certain activities.
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