Simone Weil and the Impossible: a Radical View of Religion and Culture

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

2003

Author

Tracy, David

Editor

Pierce, Andrew Smyth, Geraldine

Book

Critical Spirit :Theology at the Crossroads of Faith and Culture: Essays in Honour of Gabriel Daly

Pages

208-222

Publisher

Columbia Press

Place Published

Dublin

Language

English

Chapter

13

Keywords

affliction (malheur)
Christianity
Judaism
mysticism
Platonism
suffering

Annotation

Tracy begins this chapter with a brief description and discussion of Weil’s three mystical experiences. He then proceeds to give an overview of the content and form of her writing, followed by a discussion of her problematic and disconcerting response to the Jewish tradition. Tracy then offers an in-depth exploration of Weil’s ‘Christian Platonism’ and the complex theology to which it gave rise.

Notes

Almost identical text published by Tracy as "Simone Weil and the Impossible" in The Christian Platonism of Simone Weil. Eds. Doering, E. Jane and Eric O. Springsted. Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004. 229-41. Published in French as: "Simone Weil et L'impossible: une pensée radicale de la religion et de la culture." Trans. Florence de Lussy. Simone Weil. in Sagesse et grâce violente Ed. Florence de Lussy, 2nd ed. Montrouge: Bayard, 2009. 273-95.