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Full Idea
The authentic and pure values - truth, beauty and goodness - in the activity of a human being are the result of one and same act, a certain application of the full attention to the object. Teaching should only aim to train the attention for such an act.
Gist of Idea
Beauty, goodness and truth are only achieved by applying full attention
Source
Simone Weil (Gravity and Grace (9 extracts) [1943], p.234)
Book Ref
Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.234
A Reaction
A distinctive Weil idea, that absorbed 'attention' produces almost mystical results. I am not convinced that a great still life painter (than which there is no higher criterion of attention) achieves contact with goodness thereby. But attention is good!