Ideas from 'Lect 3: Politics and Society' by Simone Weil [1933], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Lectures on Philosophy' by Weil,Simone [CUP 1978,0-521-29333-2]].
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22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / d. Ethical theory
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Everyone is devoted to morality, if they don't have to implement it
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Full Idea:
All men accept the most rigorous morality when there is no question of putting it into practice.
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From:
Simone Weil (Lect 3: Politics and Society [1933], p.129)
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A reaction:
Presumably this ranges from deliberate hypocrisy to a failure to know ourselves. There is also the question of scope. The mafia seem to be devoted to morality, but only within their family.
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 4. Citizenship
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24218
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People can't be citizens in public life if they are oppressed in economic life
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Full Idea:
It is obviously quite impossible for men to be treated like things in the labour market and in production, and to be treated as citizens in public life.
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From:
Simone Weil (Lect 3: Politics and Society [1933], p.151)
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A reaction:
Presumably this is because if people are oppressed in one area, they can never be fully free in another. Hard to prove, but sounds right.
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25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / d. Study of history
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24217
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History is scientific when it relies on accurate documents
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Full Idea:
Generally speaking, history is scientific when it depends on documents whose accuracy is not questioned.
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From:
Simone Weil (Lect 3: Politics and Society [1933], p.140)
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A reaction:
This seems to miss the obvious hermeneutic point, that even reliable documents need deconstructing, and to be seen against a background. I think she still makes an important distinction.
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