Neil G. Robertson - Leo Strauss

1 Cover

2 Series Title

3 Title Page Leo Strauss An Introduction Neil G. Robertson polity

4 Copyright Page

5 Dedication

6 Acknowledgments

7 Abbreviations of Works by Strauss

8 Introduction Who is Leo Strauss? Themes in Strauss’s Thought The Return to Natural Right The Theological-Political Problem The Exoteric/Esoteric Distinction Classical Political Philosophy The Critique of Modernity The Thesis of this Book

9 1 Recovering Natural Right in the Weimar Republic Nietzsche and the Weimar Republic Strauss’s Relation to Heidegger Strauss’s Account of Nihilism Positivism and Historicism The Recovery of Natural Right The Second Cave Notes

10 2 The Theological-Political Problem Strauss’s Theologico-Political Predicament The Discovery of Pre-Modern Rationality and Revelation The Opposition Between Reason and Revelation: Athens and Jerusalem Philosophy Defined by its Opposition to Religion Strauss’s Own Relation to Athens and Jerusalem The Genealogy of Religion What is Missing from Strauss’s Account Strauss as Jewish Thinker Notes

11 3 Esoteric Writing and Political Philosophy Esoteric Writing as Political Philosophy Modern Esoteric Writing The Art of Reading Esoteric Writings The Objectivity of Reading Between the Lines Strauss’s Writings as Practicing the Art of Esoteric Writing Notes

12 4 Recovering Classical Political Philosophy On Tyranny Philosophy as Knowledge of Causes vs. Philosophy as Knowledge of Problems Natural Right and History Socrates Strauss’s Account of Dialectics Natural Right The Problematic Status of Natural Right A Pause to Clarify Natural Right at the Level of the City The Schools of Natural Right Recovery or Project? Notes

13 5 The Critique of Modernity The Critique of Religion The Rejection of the Ancient Account of Nature The Modern Project and its Culmination or Failure in Nihilism The First Wave The Second Wave The Third Wave Notes

14 6 Strauss, the Straussians, and America Straussians The Cultural and Political Impact of the Straussians Leo Strauss Today Notes

15 Conclusion

16 Further Reading

17 Works Cited Works by Strauss Works by Authors Other than Strauss

18 Index

19 End User License Agreement

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2 Table of Contents

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Neil G. Robertson

polity

Copyright © Neil G. Robertson 2021

The right of Neil G. Robertson to be identified as Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published in 2021 by Polity Press

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All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-1630-8

ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-1631-5 (pb)

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Robertson, Neil G., author.

Title: Leo Strauss : an introduction / Neil Robertson.

Description: Medford : Polity Press, 2021. | Series: Key contemporary thinkers | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “A non-partisan introduction to the ideas of the controversial political philosopher and classicist”-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020053826 (print) | LCCN 2020053827 (ebook) | ISBN 9781509516308 (hardback) | ISBN 9781509516315 (paperback) | ISBN 9781509516322 (pdf) | ISBN 9781509516346 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Strauss, Leo--Political and social views. | Political science--Philosophy. | Political science--History.

Classification: LCC JA71 .R5853 2021 (print) | LCC JA71 (ebook) | DDC 320.092--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020053826

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020053827

by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8NL

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