Thursday, November 4th Philosophy Group

Suggested Reading:
"Natural Right and History" by Leo Strauss University of Chicago Press, 1950, 1953).
Please read as much as you can for this Thursday.

Date: Thursday, November 4, 2004

Time: 6:30-8:00 PM

Place: Harvard Club
27 or 35 West 44th St.

Location: Biddle Room, Third Floor

Comments:

Jan Herchold, a recent M.A. graduate of Chicago U. in political science where Strauss taught, will continue to discuss Strauss's philosophy. Please read as much of the book as you can. Please confine your comments to the book. That is, for the moment, the philosophy group will focus on Strauss's philosophy and not personal ruminations.

From Jan:

He recommends the following topics/themes for discussion:

-- The connections between modern political philosophy,
political atheism, and political hedonism/Epicureanism
(the "mercenary" nature of modern political and
ethical philosophy); the connection between modern political
philosophy and a utilitarian/technical natural science (as opposed to
classical natural science

-- Modernity's "conquest of nature"; in general, the
connections between political philosophy and natural
philosophy (or metaphysics, a word Strauss does not use).

-- Modernity's project to guarantee the actualization
of wisdom.

-- How accurate is Strauss's "story" of the history of
political philosophy? Does he devalue the Epicurean
and Sophist elements (which bear certain similarities
to the modern thinkers he critiques) within classical
thought in order to elevate "classical political
rationalism"?

-- Theory and practice; the implications of a renewal
of classical political philosophy for modern
politics. Does Strauss have a political program?

- The tension between reason and revelation

Again, these are all fluid, and I'm just curious to
see where the conversation will go; but these topics
may start people thinking...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Jan's credentials:
BA in philosophy, Harvard '98
MA in humanities, Chicago '04


Eric