Ideas from 'The Iliad or the Poem of Force' by Simone Weil [1940], by Theme Structure
[found in 'An Anthology' by Weil,Simone [Penguin 1986,978-0-141-18819-5]].
green numbers give full details |
back to texts
|
unexpand these ideas
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 1. Social Power
|
23812
|
Force is what turns man into a thing, and ultimately into a corpse
|
|
|
|
Full Idea:
To define 'force' - it is that x that turns anybody who is subjected to it into a thing. Exercised to the limit, it turns man into a thing in the most literal sense: it makes a corpse out of him.
|
|
|
|
From:
Simone Weil (The Iliad or the Poem of Force [1940], p.183)
|
|
|
|
A reaction:
She celebrates The Iliad as the great examination of force in human affairs. I have felt that sense of reduction to a thing whenever anyone above me in the hierarchy has arbitrarily exerted their power over me.
|
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice
|
23813
|
Only people who understand force, and don't respect it, are capable of justice
|
|
|
|
Full Idea:
Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love and justice.
|
|
|
|
From:
Simone Weil (The Iliad or the Poem of Force [1940], p.212)
|
|
|
|
A reaction:
There are, of course, occasions when we are grateful to people who exercise appropriate force on our behalf. I think she was concerned with what is inappropriate.
|