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A review by shallihavemydwarf
The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind by Simone Weil
4.0
In T.S. Eliot's highly amusing introduction, he speaks of Weil as if she is more like weather than a person: unpredictable, arbitrary, something at once to be on awe of and condescend to. It read like a satire of how accomplished men tend to feel of young, opinionated women, and I was prepared to completely fall in love with Weil.
And she is incredibly interesting, her distinguishing feature being above all else the strength of her convictions. Much of her thought is prescient and relevant, and I would venture to say the work is improved rather than detracted from by its flaws. Weil's focus is on constructing a complete, coherent plan for the post-war restoration of France. Her flaws ride on the strength of her convictions to sustain a consistent vision. While it may seem natural to suggest that had Weil lived, the wisdom of age would have improved her philosophy, I am hesitant to believe she would have been improved upon by any application of the self-doubt inherent to growth.
And she is incredibly interesting, her distinguishing feature being above all else the strength of her convictions. Much of her thought is prescient and relevant, and I would venture to say the work is improved rather than detracted from by its flaws. Weil's focus is on constructing a complete, coherent plan for the post-war restoration of France. Her flaws ride on the strength of her convictions to sustain a consistent vision. While it may seem natural to suggest that had Weil lived, the wisdom of age would have improved her philosophy, I am hesitant to believe she would have been improved upon by any application of the self-doubt inherent to growth.