Leo Strauss was a German-American philosopher and philologist who focused on ancient Greek texts. His work delves deeply into political philosophy and classical thought, exploring the relationship between philosophy and politics throughout history. Strauss is known for his distinctive approach to interpreting philosophical texts, often uncovering hidden meanings and undertones. His ideas continue to shape contemporary discussions on politics and philosophy.
The seminar focuses on Socrates' dialogue with the sophist Protagoras, exploring themes such as the nature of virtue, the distinction between Socratic and Sophistic political arts, and the interplay of knowledge and ethics. Strauss examines the teachability of virtue and its connections to courage, justice, and wisdom, while also addressing the complexities of rhetoric and the significance of myth. This insightful analysis, edited by Robert Bartlett, highlights Strauss's Platonist perspective and his deep engagement with key philosophical questions surrounding how one ought to live.
The book delves into the challenges faced by Jews and Judaism in the context of modernity, examining the dilemmas that arise from contemporary life. It offers a thorough analysis of these issues and proposes solutions aimed at addressing the unique struggles within the Jewish community. Through this exploration, it seeks to illuminate the ongoing relevance of Jewish identity and beliefs in a rapidly changing world.
One of the outstanding thinkers of our time offers in this book his final words to posterity. Studies in Platonic Political Philosophy was well underway at the time of Leo Strauss's death in 1973. Having chosen the title for the book, he selected the most important writings of his later years and arranged them to clarify the issues in political philosophy that occupied his attention throughout his life.As his choice of title indicates, the heart of Strauss's work is Platonism—a Platonism that is altogether unorthodox and highly controversial. These essays consider, among others, Heidegger, Husserl, Nietzsche, Marx, Moses Maimonides, Machiavelli, and of course Plato himself to test the Platonic understanding of the conflict between philosophy and political society. Strauss argues that an awesome spritual impoverishment has engulfed modernity because of our dimming awareness of that conflict.Thomas Pangle's Introduction places the work within the context of the entire Straussian corpus and focuses especially on Strauss's late Socratic writings as a key to his mature thought. For those already familiar with Strauss, Pangle's essay will provoke thought and debate; for beginning readers of Strauss, it provides a fine introduction. A complete bibliography of Strauss's writings if included.
"On Tyranny" by Leo Strauss explores Xenophon's dialogue "Hiero," where the tyrant Hiero and poet Simonides debate tyranny's pros and cons. Strauss critiques modern liberalism's tendency toward nihilism, linking it to both brutal regimes and the aimlessness of contemporary society. He advocates a return to classical political philosophy for guidance.
The City and Man consists of provocative essays by the late Leo Strauss on Aristotle's Politics , Plato's Republic , and Thucydides' Peloponnesian Wars . Together, the essays constitute a brilliant attempt to use classical political philosophy as a means of liberating modern political philosophy from the stranglehold of ideology. The essays are based on a long and intimate familiarity with the works, but the essay on Aristotle is especially important as one of Strauss's few writings on the philosopher who largely shaped Strauss's conception of antiquity. The essay on Plato is a full-scale discussion of Platonic political philosophy, wide in scope yet compact in execution. When discussing Thucydides, Strauss succeeds not only in presenting the historian as a moral thinker of high rank, but in drawing his thought into the orbit of philosophy, and thus indicating a relation of history and philosophy that does not presuppose the absorption of philosophy by history.
This volume provides an unequaled introduction to the thought of chief contributors to the Western tradition of political philosophy from classical Greek antiquity to the twentieth century. Written by specialists on the various philosophers, this third edition has been expanded significantly to include both new and revised essays.
This concise and accessible introduction to Strauss's thought provides, for wider audience, a bridge to his more complex theoretical work. Editor Pangle has gathered five of Strauss's previously unpublished lectures and five hard-to-find published writings and has arranged them so as to demonstrate the systematic progression of the major themes that underlay Strauss's mature work."[These essays] display the incomparable insight and remarkable range of knowledge that set Strauss's works apart from any other twentieth-century philosopher's."—Charles R. Kesler, National Review
Leo Strauss's lectures on Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra reveal his critical engagement with Nietzsche's thought, particularly in relation to political philosophy. Richard L. Velkley presents these lectures with detailed annotations, highlighting the influence of Nietzsche on Strauss's ideas. The work also explores the interplay between Strauss and Heidegger, examining Heidegger's critiques of Nietzsche and positioning him as a counterpoint to Strauss's interpretation. This study offers valuable insights into the philosophical inquiries surrounding modernity and the crisis of Western civilization.
Responding to the Challenge of Positivism and Historicism
272 pages
10 hours of reading
Focusing on the significance of political philosophy, the book compiles Leo Strauss's 1965 introductory lectures at the University of Chicago, aimed at making his complex ideas accessible. Strauss critiques contemporary challenges like positivism and historicism, arguing for the relevance of classical political thought in defining the common good. He explores the evolution of political philosophy, examining key figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Comte, and Kant, to assess whether modern skepticism about the "good society" is justified.
The book delves into Leo Strauss's 1965 seminar on Hegel at the University of Chicago, highlighting Strauss's unique perspective on Hegelian thought, particularly in relation to modern political philosophy. Strauss emphasizes Hegel's "Philosophy of History," arguing for the significance of religion in Hegel's framework. The text includes a comprehensive transcript of the seminar, alongside annotations that enhance understanding and provide context. Through this exploration, the book sheds light on the interplay between empirical history and philosophy in Hegel's work.
