Reading Leo Strauss: Politics, Philosophy, Judaism

Though German philosopher Leo Strauss (1899-1973) is referred to as the father of neo-conservatism, Yale political science professor Smith argues that relationship is a ""mountain of nonsense"" and that Strauss was ""a friend of liberal democracy-one of the best friends democracy ever had."" In his examination of Strauss's lifelong occupation with the ""theologico-political problem,"" Smith explores Strauss's ruminations on the dilemma of destiny versus free will. Strauss identified complications with both and conceded there is no way to reconcile the two, but as Smith notes, ""the peculiar heroism of the philosopher consists of...keeping alive an awareness of the problems as things that defy permanent solutions."" Strauss advocated the separation of state and society as the most practical (but not perfect) way to address the theologico-political problem, prompting Smith to call Strauss's politics ""liberalism without illusions."" In addition to scrutinizing Strauss's works (Natural Right and History and On Tyranny, among others), Smith also considers Strauss's writings on Spinoza, whom he regarded as ""the prophet of a new kind of ethical culture,"" and Heidegger as well as his correspondence with colleague and friend Gershom Scholem. Smith quietly builds a persuasive case that Strauss's work ""makes clear that the danger to the West comes not from liberalism but from our loss of confidence in it.""