Simone Weil: Basic Writings

Simone Weil is one of the most profound and thought-provoking thinkers of the 20th century. A teacher, factory and farm labourer, a political activist at home and abroad, a loving friend, daughter and sister--all these manifest a life devoted to the good in its many forms. Her writings explore the good open to us and the various routes to it, spanning philosophy, politics, science and spirituality. While she saw her vocation primarily as a philosopher--examining questions concerning human faculties, action and thought, the limits of language and our need of mediation, suffering and beauty for contact with reality--her startlingly original thought is often obscured by her having been too readily categorized as a Christian mystic.

Simone Weil: Basic Writings is an expertly edited anthology of Weil's most important writings, presenting her philosophy as it relates to the architecture of human nature, politics, work, necessity, beauty, goodness and God. Working from the definitive French edition of Weil's complete writings, D. K. Levy and Marina Barabas have translated the essays anew or for the first time, adding important notes and references absent from existing English language editions of Weil's work.

Following an extensive introduction that gives an overview of Weil's life and thought, each section opens with a short introduction situating the selected essays within Weil's oeuvre.

Simone Weil: Basic Writings is an invaluable entry point for students and scholars of Weil's thought, not only in philosophy but related disciplines such as politics, literature and religion.