The Jewish philosopher Simone Weil wrote that the activity of study is ultimately a matter of developing our capacity for attention, which also allows us to have deep relationships with others and with God. In this seminar, led by Dr. Nathaniel Peters, we will read and discuss her essay on the right use of school studies and consider how our academic work shapes our life as a whole.

seminar series

Acedia, Technology, and the Attention Economy: Orienting Our Lives in an Age of Distraction

Acedia or sloth seems an unlikely candidate for one of the seven deadly sins. Surely laziness is not as dangerous as greed or lust; inactivity doesn’t kill. But the term is actually a complex concept with shades of apathy, melancholy, dissipation, and distractedness—and is one of the defining vices of our time. We see in our lives how technology scatters our thinking, dissipating our ability to focus on one line of thought or goal. We’re encouraged to adopt a critically detached posture in our studies, which all too frequently quenches the love and zeal we have for the pursuit of the truth. We feel listless in our work and fear commitment in our love. This seminar series will examine how we can focus on what matters most in an increasingly competitive attention economy.

This series is co-sponsored by the Elm Institute.