Eric O. Springsted spends some time with Contemplify to explore the life and attention of Simone Weil. The French philosopher, mystic and activist dared to imagine an authentic life based on the attention and practice of love for all of humanity. Weil came into her own through a contemplative stance hard-won through affliction and openness. Springsted has spent his entire career drawing from the deep well of wisdom that is Simone Weil. In our conversation we focus on what Simone Weil might say about the current education system, her freedom of thought, how poetry transformed Weil’s life and Springsted’s own story of connecting to Weil’s work. Pay close attention to all that is at hand, make Weil proud.
Eric O. Springsted is an author, theologian, philosopher and minister. See all of Eric’s books here.
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EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Books by Eric O. Springsted
- Simone Weil (Modern Spiritual Masters Series)
- Simone Weil and the Suffering of Love
- Christus Mediator: Platonic Meditation in the Thought of Simone Weil
- Eric O. Springsted’s Amazon Author Page
Books Mentioned
- (Essay) Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God by Simone Weil
- George Herbert’s poem “Love”
- Politics Past by Dwight MacDonald
- Simone Weil (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) by Eric O. Springsted
- Cloud of Unknowing by Anonymous
People
- Fr. Joseph Marie Perrin
- Plato
- Iris Murdoch
- Simone Weil Society
- Nicholas of Cusa
- Georger Herbert
- Meister Eckhart
- Gustave Thibon
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- John of the Cross
Drinks Pairings
- Scotch
Contemplative Practices
Highlights
1m30s What does contemplative mean to you?
2m30s Was Weil a contemplative?
4m50s What would Weil say about our current education system?
6m40s How Springsted discovered Weil
14m Weil family life
18m Weil experience teaching in classrooms during the day and factory workers at night
23m25s Weil’s spiritual awakening
33m40s Weil’s relationship with Fr. Perrin
38m50s Weil’s message for today’s world
42m10s The two questions Springsted would have for Weil
45m45s Springsted’s own contemplative practices
50m20s What aspect of Simone Weil’s work is becoming most important
Photo credit: Death to Stock Photo
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