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A review by gnatroberts
The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind by Simone Weil
5.0
It's a rare pleasure to encounter a brilliant mind that thinks so differently from you, whose almost every thought contradicts the assumptions you've made your entire life. Simone Weil is such a mind for me, and I think for many others of my generation. The spiritual anarchist, whose anarchism was founded in spirituality and not incidental to it. The faithful iconoclast. From the first page, Weil upended my worldview, with her elegant reversal of the common conception of human rights, and her emphasis on obligation. Her distaste for the Romans reframes the entirety of Western history. Her closing thesis on the holiness of labor reminded me of Buddhist walking meditation, the willing subordination of self.
One of the most satisfying things about Weil's philosophy is its consistency. So many European philosophers devoted their lives to the theory of human dignity, but went on to condone genocide and colonialism across the world. Weil applies her principles justly and equitably, and sees the same worthiness in Senegalese and Tahitian culture as in French. She condemns her nation's colonialism at every opportunity, and points out its many hypocrisies. Its sadly refreshing to hear a white person so thoroughly recognize the humanity of BIPOC peoples.
It will be years before I fully come to terms with this book. I do not know how much of Weil's beliefs I agree with and how much I don't. To be honest, it feels profane to consider this book in terms of agree/disagree. This book feels above such concerns, I know for certain I am better off for having read it.
One of the most satisfying things about Weil's philosophy is its consistency. So many European philosophers devoted their lives to the theory of human dignity, but went on to condone genocide and colonialism across the world. Weil applies her principles justly and equitably, and sees the same worthiness in Senegalese and Tahitian culture as in French. She condemns her nation's colonialism at every opportunity, and points out its many hypocrisies. Its sadly refreshing to hear a white person so thoroughly recognize the humanity of BIPOC peoples.
It will be years before I fully come to terms with this book. I do not know how much of Weil's beliefs I agree with and how much I don't. To be honest, it feels profane to consider this book in terms of agree/disagree. This book feels above such concerns, I know for certain I am better off for having read it.