Ideas from 'Human Personality' by Simone Weil [1943], by Theme Structure

[found in 'An Anthology' by Weil,Simone [Penguin 1986,978-0-141-18819-5]].

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3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 3. Value of Truth
Genius and love of truth are always accompanied by great humility
16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 7. Self and Body / a. Self needs body
What is sacred is not a person, but the whole physical human being
18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 1. Thought
The mind is imprisoned and limited by language, restricting our awareness of wider thoughts
21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 6. The Sublime
Beauty is an attractive mystery, leaving nothing to be desired
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / f. Ultimate value
All we need are the unity of justice, truth and beauty
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / c. Life
The sacred in every human is their expectation of good rather than evil
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love
Everything which originates in love is beautiful
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / j. Evil
Evil is transmitted by comforts and pleasures, but mostly by doing harm to people
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 8. Socialism
It is not more money which the wretched members of society need
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism
The problem of the collective is not suppression of persons, but persons erasing themselves
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
People absurdly claim an equal share of things which are essentially privileged
25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
Rights are asserted contentiously, and need the backing of force
Giving centrality to rights stifles all impulses of charity
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice
The spirit of justice needs the full attention of truth, and that attention is love
Justice (concerning harm) is distinct from rights (concerning inequality)
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 3. Punishment / d. Reform of offenders
The only thing in society worse than crime is repressive justice
Punishment aims at the good for men who don't desire it
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / c. God is the good
The only choice is between supernatural good, or evil