French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Louis, Leo Strauss, Political Philosopher
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas

Adrien Louis

Leo Strauss, Political Philosopher

CNRS éditions

ISBN : 978-2-271-08646-4

360 p.

25,00 €

OVERVIEW

Leo Strauss (1899–1973) is undoubtedly one of the major thinkers of the 20th century. Having reopened cases long considered settled—such as the quarrel between the Ancients and the Moderns, or the opposition between reason and revelation—he has been the subject of conflicting interpretations, being portrayed either as a fundamentally apolitical thinker solely concerned with revitalizing philosophical life, or as secretly political, serving the most conservative forces in the United States.

This book first sets out to re-examine Strauss as one of the most stimulating political philosophers of his century, namely a thinker dedicated to understanding and illuminating political phenomena. Yet, it must be acknowledged that from this perspective, his work presents a peculiar paradox. For while Strauss strongly advocates for a return to the classical understanding of political regimes, he simultaneously remains deeply reluctant to analyze the various regimes and cleavages of the modern world. Even more surprisingly, while calling for a political science faithful to the citizen's perception of these phenomena, he consistently downplays the differences between communists, progressives, and conservatives regarding his own era.

In short, there is a baffling hiatus between his conception of proper political science and his almost apolitical approach to modernity. It is this specific problem that is explored here.

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An article on this book can be read on en-attendant-nadeau.fr:

"Can Philosophy Be Political?", by Marc Lebiez (July 2, 2019)

The current US President differs from his early 2000s predecessor in that the latter was surrounded by advisors of high intellectual caliber. A significant portion of them claimed to be inspired by the political philosophy of Leo Strauss: a return to the Greek classics against modern historicism. These political debates now seem very distant, and those who, like Adrien Louis, take an interest in Leo Strauss do so purely in academic terms.

Leo Strauss remains a central yet deeply contested figure in twentieth-century political thought. Associated with the revival of classical philosophy, particularly the sustained engagement with ancient Greek texts, his work challenged the prevailing currents of historicism and relativism. Scholars and commentators have long debated whether his project was primarily philosophical or subtly aligned with conservative American politics. By revisiting these foundational debates, the volume contributes to ongoing discussions concerning the relationship between political theory, philosophical inquiry, and the interpretation of historical texts within the broader landscape of modern intellectual history.

This study will appeal primarily to students of political philosophy, intellectual historians, and readers interested in the reception of classical ideas in modern thought. It offers a structured approach to understanding the internal tensions of a thinker who advocated for a return to classical regimes while seemingly distancing himself from the concrete analysis of contemporary political structures. Researchers exploring the methodology of political science and the legacy of twentieth-century Continental and American political philosophy will find this analysis a helpful resource for navigating the complexities of Strauss's enduring intellectual legacy.