Table of Contents
1 Cover
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