The Relevance of the Radical

In these essays marking the centenary of Simone Weil's birth, contributors show how the life and words of the late French activist, philosopher, and mystic are arguably more urgent now than ever before. The book's first section analyzes the "radical orientation" suggested in Weil's writings, addressing the relevance of her religious ideas, the "irrelevant," the posture of attentiveness and "looking," and the roles of erotic exemplarity and mystery.?The second section examines the "radical world" that follows from that orientation, considering themes like violence, power, resistance, responsibility, feminism, liberation theology, science, technology, propaganda, and political hegemony. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A. Rebecca Rozelle-Stone is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, The University of North Dakota, USA. Lucian Stone is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, The University of North Dakota, USA.