Leo Strauss: An Intellectual Biography

About this book

Since political theorist Leo Strausss death in 1973 American interpreters have heatedly debated his intellectual legacy. Daniel Tanguay recovers Strauss from the atmosphere of partisan debate that has dominated American journalistic political and academic discussions of his work. Tanguay offers in crystal-clear prose the first assessment of the whole of Strausss thought a daunting task owing to the vastness and scope of Strausss writings. This comprehensive overview of Strausss thought is indispensable for anyone seeking to understand his philosophy and legacy. Tanguay gives special attention to Strausss little-known formative years 1920-1938 during which the philosopher elaborated the theme of his research what he termed the theological-political problem. Tanguay shows the connection of this theme to other major elements in Strausss thought such as the Quarrel between the Ancients and Moderns the return to classical natural right the art of esoteric writing and his critique of modernity. In so doing the author approaches what is at the heart of Strausss work: God and politics. Rescuing Strauss from polemics and ill-defined generalizations about his ideas Tanguay provides instead an important and timely analysis of a major philosophical thinker of the twentieth century.