Esotericism Ancient and Modern
Strauss Contra Straussianism on the Art of Political-Philosophical Writing
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6349804 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael L Frazer (0000-0002-9797-3647, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 33-61 |
| Publication date | 2006-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Political Theory (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0090-5917 • E-ISSN: 1552-7476 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0090591705277770 |
| OpenAlex | W2077042262 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 2 |
Leo Strauss presents at least two distinct accounts of the idea that the authors in the political-philosophical canon have often masked their true teachings. A weaker account of esotericism, dependent on the contingent fact of persecution, is attributed to the moderns, while a stronger account, stemming from a necessary conflict between philosophy and society, is attributed to the ancients. Although most interpreters agree that Strauss here sides with the ancients, this view fails to consider the possibility that Strauss's writings on esotericism may themselves be composed esoterically. A reevaluation of Straussian hermeneutics in light of this possibility suggests that the elitism and secrecy often associated with “Straussianism” may stem, not from Strauss's true account of esotericism, but instead from an exoteric doctrine designed to seduce students into a life of philosophy
Doctrine · Elitism · Epistemology · Hermeneutics · Nominalism · Persecution · Political philosophy · Politics · Secrecy · Theology · Law · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Philosophy · Seventeenth-Century Political and Philosophical Thought · Weber, Simmel, Sociological Theory
Dreaming between the lines
The Forgotten Comedy of the Socratic Turn
Has Political Theory Become More Political? Evidence and Stakes for Future Theory
O Filósofo e a cidade
The God of This Lower World”
The Straussian Reception of Plato and Nationalism in China
Truth, Lies, and Concealment
Incommunicative Action
| Unique citing works | 8 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2010 - 2025 (16) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |