Solitude should not make the individual feel as if they are above "the social group" or too good to converse with others but it should allow the individual to let go of his/her ego. The idea is to escape social life in a way and to mentally rise about believing that you need social life for validation or purpose etc. However, solitude is necessary for serenity of the mind and for the sake of productivity. One who fully understands the meaning of solitude can rise "above social life and return to it when he/she wishes." This idea that Simone Weil discusses relates to Emerson's idea of "spiritual elevation" which means being about to rise above it all; time, work, stress, society, social standards, the expectations of others, etc in a modest and non-egotistic manner.
Quotations:
"De-create the created false earthly social identity that society convinces you to accept and instead embrace transcendent presence in the impersonal"
Weil's definition of "the impersonal": being able to voluntarily let go of or the renunciation of ego.
"Solitude, on the other hand is the state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness."
My Interpretation of Simone Weil's Theories:
Weil desired to be alone due to the traumatic events that were occurring in the world. She recognized that being alone meant having time to concentrate on her spirituality. She used solitude as a survival mechanism in the ever changing, ever disappointing, and ever unreliable world that we live in. One is in solitude when they are physically alone but solitude is also very much about he individual's mental state. Being in solitude and understanding solitude will allow an individual to block everything out and focus on what is important. The individual will be able to grow due to little or no distractions. Mental control essential.
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