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Single Idea 23749
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism
]
Full Idea
The chief danger does not lie in the collectivity's tendency to circumscribe the person, but in the person's tendency to immolate himself in the collective.
Gist of Idea
The problem of the collective is not suppression of persons, but persons erasing themselves
Source
Simone Weil (Human Personality [1943], p.78)
Book Ref
Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.78
A Reaction
I'm guessing that in 1943 she had in mind both Nazis and Communists. She seems to articulate a strong form of liberalism in an interesting way. It sounds like a form of Bad Faith.
Related Idea
Idea 23747
What is sacred is not a person, but the whole physical human being [Weil]
The
18 ideas
from 'Human Personality'
23747
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What is sacred is not a person, but the whole physical human being
[Weil]
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23748
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The sacred in every human is their expectation of good rather than evil
[Weil]
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23749
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The problem of the collective is not suppression of persons, but persons erasing themselves
[Weil]
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23750
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It is not more money which the wretched members of society need
[Weil]
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23751
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Rights are asserted contentiously, and need the backing of force
[Weil]
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23752
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Giving centrality to rights stifles all impulses of charity
[Weil]
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23753
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People absurdly claim an equal share of things which are essentially privileged
[Weil]
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23754
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The only choice is between supernatural good, or evil
[Weil]
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23755
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Genius and love of truth are always accompanied by great humility
[Weil]
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23756
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The mind is imprisoned and limited by language, restricting our awareness of wider thoughts
[Weil]
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23758
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Beauty is an attractive mystery, leaving nothing to be desired
[Weil]
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23757
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The spirit of justice needs the full attention of truth, and that attention is love
[Weil]
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23761
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Justice (concerning harm) is distinct from rights (concerning inequality)
[Weil]
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23759
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Everything which originates in love is beautiful
[Weil]
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23760
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All we need are the unity of justice, truth and beauty
[Weil]
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23762
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Evil is transmitted by comforts and pleasures, but mostly by doing harm to people
[Weil]
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23764
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The only thing in society worse than crime is repressive justice
[Weil]
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23763
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Punishment aims at the good for men who don't desire it
[Weil]
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