French & Francophone Studies Events
[PAST EVENT] Is Love a Political Act? Perspectives on Love in the Thought of Hannah Arendt and Simone Weil
Access & Features
- Open to the public
Drawing from Hannah Arendt's concept of Amor Mundi (Love of the World) and Simone Weil's notion of the "madness of love," this talk explores the inherent political power of love. Beginning with the intimate and personal domain, where love manifests between individuals, the discussion examines how love extends into the public and political spheres. It considers the potential for love to encompass not only the Other but even the enemy. Arendt and Weil, both young Jewish women at the onset of their intellectual careers when Hitler rose to power in Germany, engaged with Christian texts to develop conceptions of love that emphasized its political significance—particularly in times of war and crisis. This lecture will analyze their perspectives, highlighting how love can serve as a transformative force in political thought.
Ayala Gidron is a Visiting Scholar in the Judaic Studies program at William & Mary and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University. Her research focuses on Radical Good: Jewish Moral Philosophy in Response to the Great Crisis.
Sponsored by: Judaic Studies