New Books in Intellectual History

William H. F. Altman, "The German Stranger: Leo Strauss and National Socialism" (Lexington Books, 2010)

Sep 18, 2024
William H. F. Altman, a retired public high-school teacher and author specializing in intellectual history, delves into the life and ideas of Leo Strauss, a pivotal figure in political philosophy. They discuss Strauss's critique of liberal democracy and his connections to historical figures like Carl Schmitt and Nietzsche. Altman explores Strauss’s views on exoteric writing, radical political Zionism, and his controversial legacy, including the influence of his students in shaping contemporary political thought. The conversation reveals Strauss’s complex relationship with modernity and tradition.
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ANECDOTE

Footnote Triggered A Book-Length Investigation

  • Altman recounts how a footnote in Liveth's article triggered his investigation into Strauss.
  • That discovery led him to pursue Strauss's hidden commitments across archives and writings.
INSIGHT

Change Of Orientation Toward Decisionism

  • Leo Strauss shifted from Zionism toward a radical critique of liberal democracy rooted in decisionist thought.
  • Altman traces this shift to Strauss's 1932 review of Carl Schmitt and related writings advocating a rereading of Hobbes.
INSIGHT

The Lost War As Intellectual Backdrop

  • The lost World War I and Germany's defeat deeply shaped Strauss's generation and views.
  • Altman stresses this trauma as essential context for Strauss, Heidegger, and Schmitt's thought.
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