“To Make Known This Method”: Simone Weil and the Business of Institutional Education

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

2010

Author

Nelson, Christopher A.P.

Editor

Rozelle-Stone, Rebecca Stone, Lucian

Book

The Relevance of the Radical: Simone Weil 100 Years Later

Pages

76-90

Publisher

Continuum

Place Published

New York

Language

English

Chapter

5

Keywords

attention
education
love of God

Annotation

As suggested by the title, Nelson is interested in the application of Weil's views to institutional education. After summarizing her essay "The Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God” focusing on her notion of attention, he considers the relevance of Weil’s views for teachers, non-believers and older students. He next considers two further questions: what method might a teacher employ to develop attention?; and what does the goal of the love for one's neighbor mean outside a system of religious belief?