The Cross, the Flesh, and the Absent God: Finding Justice Through Love and Affliction in Simone Weil’s Writings

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2008

Author

Willox, Ashlee Cunsolo

Journal

The Journal of Religion

Volume

88

Number

1

Pages

53-74

Language

English

Publish Dates

Jan

Keywords

affliction (malheur)
attention
justice
obligations
rights

Annotation

Willox begins with a brief overview of Weil's life highlighting Weil's concern for justice. She then goes on to give an exposition of Weil's writings on justice focusing on her work in The Need for Roots. Wilcox is particularly interested in Weil's concern with human obligations as opposed to rights. She then turns to look at Weil's notions of attention and affliction, again focusing on how these ideas contribute to Weil's understanding of justice. Willox concludes with a brief summary of what she feels to be Weil's ongoing contribution to the search for justice in 'modern times'.