Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Political Science
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Leo Strauss (1899-1973), the German born American political philosopher, is famous for arguing that Niccolo Machiavelli initiated the decisive break with ancient philosophy, that Jerusalem and Athens have competing claims, and that contemporary thought is dominated by historicism. Strauss is also famous for arguing that great writers hide their true teachings in plain sight under a surface or exoteric teaching. I argue that Strauss himself had an exoteric teaching. I argue Strauss’ deeper teaching was that the history of political philosophy resembles the Platonic degeneration of regimes writ large. The process of degeneration is the transformation of philosophy into poetry. Political philosophy begins with Socrates questioning authority and ends with Heidegger submitting to it.
Date
1-11-2025
Recommended Citation
Cloud, Thomas R., "Leo Strauss and the Regime of Philosophy: Poetry, Cosmology, and the Degeneration of the West" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6670.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6670
Committee Chair
James Stoner
