The decolonial philosophy in Simone Weil and Malcom Ferdinand

Abstract

The search for constituting a decolonial thought is significantly present in contemporary discussions about society. Simone Weil (1909–1943), at the beginning of modernity and amidst revolutions and great wars, addressed how conquests affect colonized peoples and cause a disconnection of these peoples from their history and culture, which the philosopher would later conceptualize as uprooting. This uprooting is present in society, often under other names, such as revolutions and conquests, which, through their slogans and propaganda, are capable of increasingly turning human being into a commodity. Similarly, in current times, Malcom Ferdinand (1985), an environmental engineer and doctor in political philosophy, reflects on environmental issues and seeks to establish a decolonial ethic based on the Caribbean context. Ferdinand amplifies Weil's discourse by considering not only the reality of human being commodified, but also the racial and humanist issues that place "Man" as superior, while viewing the resources of "Nature" as a commodity to be sold and exploited. Ferdinand argues that the ecological issue cannot be detached from the colonial reality, as the latter established a destructive way of inhabiting the Earth. Likewise, the anti-racist issue cannot be interpreted separately from the ecological factor, as it may foster a movement of domination among people. In this article, we first addressed the modern perspective and the impacts of dualism on the human view of the world, followed by the issue of uprooting in Simone Weil. Finally, a parallel was established between the two thinkers regarding the importance of situating decolonial thought in contemporary times.

Keywords: Decolonial philosophy. Simone Weil. Malcom Ferdinand.