Reading Nature As Sãdhanã in Simone Weil
Publication Type |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication |
2002 |
Author |
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Journal |
Prajña Vihara: Journal of Philosophy and Religion |
Volume |
3 |
Number |
1 |
Pages |
59-80 |
Language |
English |
Keywords |
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Annotation |
Hermida begins by identifying and briefly discussing three points about Weil’s conception of philosophy: philosophy as an exercise in attention, the need to return to the beginning – i.e. early Greek philosophy and finally her belief that the journey to wisdom is a spiritual path. Hermida then turns to Weil’s concept of ‘reading’ nature as for Weil, “the natural word is a veritable theophany, a manifestation of God” (p. 60). After a brief discussion of Weil’s views on science in relation to nature, Hermida goes on to identify what Weil argues are ‘various levels of reading nature’ ranging from ‘debased or degenerate readings up to supernatural or ‘superposed readings’. Hermida next presents the various metaphors Weil uses to give an understanding of these ‘levels of reading’. Central to this discussion are Well’s emphasis on the need for detachment from the self in these readings as well as the principle of necessity, and obedience. Such reading of nature will ultimately lead to logos, the principle of the order in nature behind which lies Weil claims one may find God. |