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Reading Leo Strauss

Politics, Philosophy, Judaism
By Steven B. Smith
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Reading Leo Strauss by Steven B. Smith delves into the ideas and influence of philosopher Leo Strauss, offering a deep exploration of his thoughts on ancient and modern political philosophy. The book examines Strauss's approach to reading classic texts and the concept of philosophical esotericism, revealing how his work bridges the gap between hermeneutics and politics. Smith provides a clear analysis of Strauss's impact on political thought, presenting his philosophies as a method for understanding the complexities of ethical and political life.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the influence of political philosophy on contemporary thought. It offers a detailed examination of one of the 20th-century's pivotal thinkers, inviting you to explore the complex relationship between philosophy and politics. If you appreciate in-depth analyses and insightful interpretations of philosophical ideas, this could be a rewarding read.

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Shows that Leo Strauss' defense of liberal democracy was closely connected to his skepticism of both the extreme Left and extreme Right. It assesses Strauss's attempt to direct teaching of political science away from examination of mass behavior and interest-group politics and toward study of philosophical principles on which politics are based.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Interest in Leo Strauss is greater now than at any time since his death, mostly because of the purported link between his thought and the political movement known as neoconservatism. Steven B. Smith, however, surprisingly depicts Strauss not as the high priest of neoconservatism but as a friend of liberal democracy—perhaps the best defender democracy has ever had. Moreover, in Reading Leo Strauss, Smith shows that Strauss’s defence of liberal democracy was closely connected to his scepticism of both the extreme Left and extreme Right.

Smith asserts that this philosophical scepticism defined Strauss’s thought. It was as a sceptic, Smith argues, that Strauss considered the seemingly irreconcilable conflict between reason and revelation—a conflict Strauss dubbed the “theologico-political problem.” Calling this problem “the theme of my investigations,” Strauss asked the same fundamental question throughout his life: what is the relation of the political order to revelation in general and Judaism in particular? Smith organises his book with this question, first addressing Strauss’s views on religion and then examining his thought on philosophical and political issues.

In his investigation of these philosophical and political issues, Smith assesses Strauss’s attempt to direct the teaching of political science away from the examination of mass behaviour and interest group politics and toward the study of the philosophical principles on which politics are based. With his provocative, lucid essays, Smith goes a long way toward establishing a distinctive form of Straussian liberalism.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Reading Leo Strauss by Steven B. Smith is praised for its clear and well-argued examination of Strauss's works, portraying him as a defender of democracy and a proponent of intellectual integrity. The book successfully challenges misconceptions about Strauss, offering a balanced perspective that is both empathetic and critically insightful. It is regarded as an excellent introduction to Strauss's complex ideas.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226763897

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 April 2007

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 2.0mm

Width: 15.0mm

Height: 23.0mm

Weight: 312g

Pages: 268

Collections

Education & Reference Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism Politics & Current Affairs Steven B. Smith

About the Author

Steven B. Smith is the Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science at Yale University. He is the author of four other books, including, most recently, Spinoza's Book of Life: Freedom and Redemption in the "Ethics."

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