Simone Weil on Death

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

1997

Author

Cockburn, David

Journal

Mortality

Volume

2

Number

1

Pages

63-72

Language

English

Keywords

death
immortality
desire
love

Annotation

This paper looks at some of Simone Weil’s views on death, particularly the idea that a belief in immortality is harmful to the way we live in the present. Cockburn reflects on what Weil means by this, identifies the value he finds in such a contention and then turns to discuss some of the philosophical problems he see as inherent in such a belief. In doing so he focuses considerable attention on Weil’s claim that a pure love can accept the death of a loved one, finding value and comfort simply in the fact that they had existed