Simone Weil : une lecture philosophique de l’Iliade

Abstract This article analyses an article by Simone Weil written in 1937–1938 entitled 'The Iliad or the poem of force'. The aim is to show that Simone Weil's reading of the Iliad is essential for understanding the genesis of her own thought, and in particular of her concept of force, although it appears in other contexts where there is no question of Hellenism, and although other possible inspirations can be identified. On the other hand, he argues that Simone Weil's analyses are highly refined and interesting in their own right, insofar as they highlight essential points of the Homeric text, despite their partiality.