Simone Weil and the need for obedience: political, religious, and ethical dimensions
Simone Weil and the need for obedience: political, religious, and ethical dimensions
Author(s): Sasha Lawson-FrostSubject(s): Philosophy, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Social Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion
Published by: Axia Academic Publishers
Keywords: Simone Weil; obedience; freedom; Christian ethics; political philosophy
Summary/Abstract: This essay explores the development of Simone Weil's conception of obedience across religious, political, and ethical contexts. By bringing together these strands of Weil's thought, it aims to illuminate some important connections in her treatment of obedience throughout these diverse topics. The author argues that Weil's political treatment of obedience is deeply influenced by ideas in Christian thought, and that this account is situated within an understanding of obedience in the natural world which is itself ethically loaded. Hence it is suggested that Weil's account of obedience has something to offer philosophy today: namely, a conception of obedience which recognises the practical and ethical need for obeying others, but which is distinct from the mere submission to power.
Journal: Labyrinth: An International Journal for Philosophy, Value Theory and Sociocultural Hermeneutics
- Issue Year: 25/2023
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 111-135
- Page Count: 25
- Language: English