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What We Owe One Another

Series: ERIS gems
Brief Description
We speak of rights. Simone Weil speaks of obligations. In this austere and devastating essay, she argues that justice does not begin with claims, but with what we owe to the vulnerable core in every human being. Against entitlement and abstraction, she offers something rarer: attention,... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Simone Weil argues that justice does not begin with claims, but with what we owe to the vulnerable core in every human being. Against entitlement and abstraction, she offers something rarer: attention, restraint, and moral seriousness.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

We speak of rights. Simone Weil speaks of obligations. In this austere and devastating essay, she argues that justice does not begin with claims, but with what we owe to the vulnerable core in every human being. Against entitlement and abstraction, she offers something rarer: attention, restraint, and moral seriousness.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781971559285

Publisher: ERIS

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 August 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: ERIS

Contributors:

  • Translated by Richard Rees

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 110.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 24

About the Author

Simone Weil was a French philosopher, mystic, and political thinker whose work spans ethics, politics, and religion. Writing with rare austerity and moral intensity, she developed a philosophy centered on attention, obligation, and the nature of justice. Her influence has only grown since her early death.

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