Time and the Body : Simone Weil. Nature and Culture

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

1995

Author

Pirruccello, Ann

Journal

Cahiers Simone Weil

Volume

18

Number

1

Pages

45-57

Language

English

Keywords

art
body
evil
nature
obedience
time

Annotation

Pirruccello argues, that according to Weil, we both love and fear time. We fear it because it is the agent of our own mortality and love it because it holds the promise of desire fulfilled. Weil argues, Pirruccello says, we need to change our relationship to time. Instead of seeking to extend some moments while speeding up others, we need to consent or abandon ourselves to time, submitting to it in obedience. She goes on to consider Weil's thought on how such obedience or 'spiritually liberating orientation to time' might come about. In answering this, Pirruccello reflects on three things Weil says must be contemplated to achieve this: the rhythms of nature especially of heavenly bodies, art of the highest quality and perpetuity - 'the sense of limitless evil'.