The Problem of Political Philosophy in Leo Strauss’ Thought

This book begins with an examination of the essence of political philosophy, traditionally conceived as the pursuit of the good life, within the framework of the twentieth-century political philosopher Leo Strauss's thought. Within this context, the interplay between convention and nature, as well as nature and philosophy, will be explored. Given the book's focus on the modern era, particular attention will be paid to the juncture at which political philosophy finds itself as a consequence of modern challenges and the dilemmas it faces. The intellectual journey leading to the crisis of modernity will be scrutinized through Strauss's approach, delving into the political doctrines of Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Martin Heidegger. Finally, solutions to overcome this crisis will be explored, and the inherent constraints of political philosophy's essence will be laid bare through a hermeneutic reinterpretation of Plato. We hope that the work will be a useful summary of Strauss's thought for those interested.