What can we do against the uprooting of our society? In an article in Nederlands Dagblad, special professor of Christian philosophy Richard Steenvoorde illustrates, using the ideas of philosopher Simone Weil and other philosophers, how we can find solid ground under our feet in an age of uncertainty. In doing so, he calls for new radicality in creating a home for those around us.
In 1943, French philosopher Simone Weil wrote a policy note for the French Resistance, in which she questioned why France adapted so easily to the German occupation in 1940. She concluded that French society was suffering from a collective distress of souls long before the war. People felt ‘uprooted’ and no longer trusted their communities, the church or the government. Weil argued that France had already given up on itself before the war began.
A core idea of Weil's work was that ‘being rooted’ is essential for the human soul. Steenvoorde compared it to a tree that must be firmly anchored to grow and weather storms. Weil believed that an uprooted society is vulnerable and advocated strengthening communities to counter this. Language and symbols play a crucial role in this, Steenvoorde believes. The associate professor stresses that Christians can and should better harness the power of words, just as comedians reach their audiences with humour and self-reflection.
Weil's ideas on uprooting also remain relevant in contemporary society. Sociologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Zygmunt Bauman point to current pressures on our ‘habitus’ - the sense of being known and rooted in a social and physical environment. Due to globalisation and digitalisation, people experience life as fragmented and yet feel detached.
Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben adds that Christians are called to live ‘as if’ the kingdom of God has already arrived. This means actively embodying the hope that lives within us. Steenvoorde calls on Christians, and people in general, to be ‘hope givers’: people who show in word and deed that the coming kingdom can already become visible. This calls for a radical faith that does not depend on structures or institutions, but is focused on the hope of the gospel. Thus, in our own daily lives, we can create communities in which people can take root again.
This article is a summary of an abridged version of Steenvoorde's lecture at the Thomas More Foundation symposium on Saturday 5 October
Read the full article on the website of Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch).
- CV
Endowed Professor of Christian Philosophy Richard Steenvoorde obtained his PhD in law (2008) and in theology (2023). In a one-day-a-week appointment, Steenvoorde teaches and conducts research on the theme of 'Worldview: a philosophy of faithful living in the world'.
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