Hannah Arendt and Simone Weil - by Kathryn Lawson & Joshua Livingstone (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Hannah Arendt and Simone Weil were two of the most compelling political thinkers of the 20th century who, despite having similar life-experiences, developed radically distinct political philosophies. This unique dialogue between the writings of Arendt and Weil highlights Arendt's secular humanism, her emphasis on heroic action, and her rejection of the moral approach to politics, contrasted starkly with Weil's religious approach, her faith in the power of divine Goodness, and her other-centric ethic of suffering and affliction. The writings here respect the profound differences between Arendt and Weil whilst pulling out the shared preoccupations of power, violence, freedom, resistance, responsibility, attention, aesthetics, and vulnerability. Without shying away from exploring the more difficult concepts in these philosophers' works, Hannah Arendt and Simone Weil also aims to pull out the relevance of their writings for contemporary issues.

Review Quotes

"Weil and Arendt have frequently been put side by side. We owe thanks to Lawson and Livingstone for this insightful and wide ranging collection of essays that now brings these two prominent philosophers into an actual conversation, helping us understand both of them better." --Eric O. Springsted, founder of The American Weil Society; Author of Simone Weil for the Twenty-First Century

"This juxtaposition of two gifted twentieth century philosophers creates a penetrating conversation over deeply held convictions on the political events of their time and eternal philosophical issues. The Weil and Arendt scholars contribute enriching insights that sharpen the ability to understand profound questions confronting today's world, from political violence to God's grace." --E. Jane Doering, Professor Emerita of French Language and Literature, University of Notre Dame, USA

"This illuminating and wide range of essays guides its readers to mind-opening vistas in thinking about Arendt and Weil. Timely, resourceful, and engaging - a meaningful addition to the literature." --Ronald K.L. Collins, Editor of Attention and Co-editor with Eric Springsted, A Declaration of Duties Toward Humankind (2023)

About the Author

Kathryn Lawson is a Lecturer and Researcher at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She is the author of Simone Weil and Ecological Ethics: Decreation for the Anthropocene as well as several journal articles and book chapters on continental philosophy, religion, and Simone Weil.

Joshua Livingstone is a PhD Candidate at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He is author of a forthcoming book chapter on Hannah Arendt and the Free Press.