An economic theorists reading of Simone Weil Aviad Heifetz  Enrico Minelli y January 2007 Abstract In Economics individuals are modeled as purposeful monads, dened by their preferences over the consequences of their own actions and the actions carried out by others, consequences which are also inuenced by the resolution of uncertainty over time. The individual does not control other peoples or natures moves, but understands well their implications, as well as these implications dependence on his own choices. This paradigm of the individual as purposeful and equipped with foresight is implicit in the contemporary discourse on well-being and public policy. In contrast, Simone Weil depicts the individual as continuously re-constituted by the contact that he establishes with reality via his action. Such an action is aimed at achieving an e/ect in the physical world, but what makes it human is not success per se, but rather the fact that it stems from reasoning and planning. A›iction is caused not by physical e/ort per se, but rather when e/ort is carried out mechanically like that of a beast of burden, when the individual has no opportunity to exercise reason for choosing how to confront realitys ever-challenging hazards and necessity. Simone Weil also emphasizes the importance of the socially-forged language in a/ecting the individuals horizon and his ability to act meaningfully. In particular, foresight cannot be assumed in situations of a›iction, which is extremely hard to communicate exactly because it consists of an alienation between reason and action. These observations of Simone Weil suggest new dimensions which standard economic modeling has hitherto avoided.  The Economics and Management Department, The Open University of Israel, aviadhe@openu.ac.il y Economics Department, University of Brescia, Italy, minelli@eco.unibs.it 1