For a Spiritual Ethics of Work: Some Inspirations from Simone Weil

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

2002

Author

Pauchant, Thierry C.

Editor

Pauchant, Thierry C.

Book

Ethics and Spirituality at Work

Pages

129-146

Publisher

Quorum Books

Place Published

Westport, Conn.

Language

English

Chapter

11

Keywords

Maslow, Abraham H.
gravity
grace
Wilber, Ken
work

Annotation

Pauchant begins with a brief biographical overview of Weil’s life and work before turning to the central focus of his essay and the larger book of which it is a part: the relationship between spirituality and work in the contemporary world. He begins by outlining why he thinks Weil’s thought is important and innovative to this central discussion, especially to the field of management. The remainder of the chapter is taken up with a very selective presentation and interpretation of Weil’s thought, connecting it to a number of thinkers and concepts, including Abraham Maslow, Ken Wilber and transpersonal psychology. He is especially concerned in this discussion, with what he terms Weil’s idea of ‘mindfulness’. The chapter concludes with a synthesis of the somewhat disparate and diverse elements of Weil’s thought he has presented into what he calls “Ten Suggestions by Simone Weil to Humanize and Spiritualize Work”.