ABSTRACT
The world, including the natural world and the human world, with its political and social institutions and practices, is part of what Simone Weil called existence, as opposed to pure being. What exists, what is in existence, is what comes into being, changes and ceases to be during some interval of time. This is in contrast to what is, to what has being in some way but is nonetheless outside time and thus never changes nor ceases to be. Each person’s time here below is short and everyone, everywhere, is subject to natural forces and necessities, alongside the hurt that others inflict. That makes people’s needs urgent. Therefore, what is always focal in Weil’s thinking is a concern with people and what might be done to make their lives better. The texts between the first and last are often field notes on humanity: its history, nature and practices.
