施特劳斯论古典政治哲学_tarcov.pdfVIP

Leo Strauss’s “On Classical Political Philosophy” NATHAN TARCOV Abstract: Leo Strauss’s “On Classical Political Philoso- Strauss admits at once that his purpose in this study is “to phy” contrasts classical political philosophy with modern po- discuss especially those characteristic features of classical litical philosophy and present-day political science. Strauss political philosophy which are in particular danger of being stresses two seemingly contrary features of classical polit- overlooked or insufficiently stressed by the schools that are ical philosophy: its direct relation to political life and its most influential in our time,” not “to sketch the outlines of an transcendence of political life. Its direct relation to politi- adequate interpretation of classical political philosophy,” but cal life prevented it from taking for granted the necessity to point to the only way, “as it seems to me,” whereby it can and possibility of political philosophy. The classical political eventually be reached “by us” (78).2 This unusual density philosopher appears as good citizen, umpire among the par- of uses of the first person plural and singular (“our,” “me,” ties, or ultimately teacher of lawgivers. He was compelled and “us”) draws the reader’s attention to “our time” with its to transcend political life when he realized its ultimate aim influential schools and the dangers they pose to the under- can be reached only by the philosophic life. Philosophy must standing of classical political philosophy and to Strauss as concern itself with political life, yet political philosophy’s an individual opposed to those schools.3 The two features of highest subject must be the