Leo Strauss

Leo Strauss was a prominent German-American philosopher and Classics scholar, known for his work on political philosophy and the history of philosophy. Strauss's intellectual journey was shaped by his studies at the University of Hamburg, University of Freiburg, and University of Marburg, where he was influenced by prominent thinkers such as Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, and Ernst Cassirer. His philosophical ideas were also informed by his experiences as a Jewish immigrant in the United States, where he became a prominent figure at the University of Chicago and the New School for Social Research. Strauss's work had a significant impact on the development of conservatism in the United States, with his ideas influencing thinkers such as William F. Buckley Jr. and Irving Kristol.

● Life and Education

Strauss was born in Kirchhain, Hesse, German Empire, and grew up in a Jewish family. He studied philosophy at the University of Hamburg, where he was influenced by Ernst Cassirer and Aby Warburg. Strauss then moved to the University of Freiburg, where he studied under Edmund Husserl, and later to the University of Marburg, where he was influenced by Martin Heidegger and Nikolai Hartmann. In 1932, Strauss immigrated to the United States, where he became a prominent figure at the University of Chicago and the New School for Social Research, interacting with scholars such as John Dewey, Thorstein Veblen, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Strauss's education and early career were also shaped by his experiences at the University of Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge University Jewish Society and interacted with scholars such as G.E. Moore and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

● Intellectual Contributions

Strauss's intellectual contributions were shaped by his studies of Plato, Aristotle, and other Classics thinkers. He was particularly interested in the concept of esoteric writing, which he believed was used by many Classics authors to convey hidden meanings and ideas. Strauss's work on Persecution and the Art of Writing explored the ways in which authors used esoteric writing to avoid persecution and censorship, citing examples from the works of Maimonides, Hobbes, and Spinoza. Strauss's ideas about esoteric writing were influenced by his studies of Islamic philosophy, particularly the works of Al-Farabi and Averroes, and his interactions with scholars such as Muhammad Iqbal and Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Strauss's intellectual contributions were also shaped by his engagement with modern thinkers such as Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Karl Popper, with whom he had a complex and often critical relationship.

● Philosophy and Politics

Strauss's philosophical ideas were deeply connected to his views on politics and the role of the philosopher-king in society. He believed that the Classics offered a unique perspective on the nature of justice and the common good, citing examples from the works of Plato and Aristotle. Strauss was critical of modern liberalism and the idea of value relativism, which he believed had led to a decline in moral and intellectual standards, engaging with thinkers such as John Rawls and Robert Nozick. Instead, he advocated for a return to the Classics and the principles of natural right, which he believed could provide a foundation for a more just and harmonious society, citing examples from the works of Cicero and Thomas Aquinas. Strauss's ideas about natural right were influenced by his studies of medieval philosophy, particularly the works of Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus, and his interactions with scholars such as Etienne Gilson and Jacques Maritain.

● Criticisms and Controversies

Strauss's ideas and legacy have been the subject of intense criticism and controversy, particularly with regard to his views on politics and morality. Some critics, such as Shadia Drury and Anne Norton, have accused Strauss of promoting a form of elitism and authoritarianism, citing examples from the works of Carl Schmitt and Leo Strauss. Others, such as Stephen Holmes and Nathan Tarcov, have defended Strauss's ideas as a necessary corrective to the excesses of modern liberalism, engaging with thinkers such as Friedrich Hayek and Michael Oakeshott. Strauss's legacy has also been the subject of controversy, with some critics accusing him of influencing neoconservative thinkers such as Irving Kristol and William Kristol, and others defending his ideas as a necessary foundation for a more just and harmonious society, citing examples from the works of Allan Bloom and Harry Jaffa.

● Legacy and Influence

Strauss's legacy and influence can be seen in the work of many prominent thinkers and scholars, including Allan Bloom, Harry Jaffa, and Claremont Institute. His ideas about esoteric writing and Persecution and the Art of Writing have been influential in the fields of Classics and intellectual history, with scholars such as Arthur Melzer and Joshua Parens building on his work. Strauss's views on politics and natural right have also had a significant impact on the development of conservatism in the United States, with thinkers such as William F. Buckley Jr. and Irving Kristol drawing on his ideas, and engaging with scholars such as Russell Kirk and Milton Friedman. Strauss's legacy continues to be felt in the work of scholars such as Harvey Mansfield and Thomas Pangle, who have built on his ideas about Classics and political philosophy, and have engaged with thinkers such as Pierre Manent and Ralph Lerner.

● Major Works

Some of Strauss's most notable works include The Political Philosophy of Hobbes, Natural Right and History, and Persecution and the Art of Writing. His book On Tyranny is a commentary on Xenophon's Hiero, and explores the nature of tyranny and the philosopher-king. Strauss's work The City and Man is a commentary on Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics, and explores the nature of justice and the common good. Strauss's ideas about esoteric writing are also explored in his book Philosophy and Law, which is a commentary on Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed. Strauss's work has been widely translated and has had a significant impact on the development of Classics and political philosophy in the United States and around the world, with scholars such as Rémi Brague and Pierre Hadot engaging with his ideas.