Synopses & Reviews
In 1928, German philosopher Carl Schmitt published
The Concept of the Political. It quickly became one of the most influential works of political philosophy published and remains a classic. In 1932, a young student of political theory named Leo Strauss published a critique of
Concept and over the next two years, wrote several letters to Schmitt questioning aspects of his argument. Schmitt never answered Strauss's letters, but in his revision of the book, he changed a number of passages in response to Strauss's criticisms without even acknowledging them. In this volume, Heinrich Meier shows what this remarkable "hidden dialogue" reveals about the development of these two seminal thinkers.
At the center of the dialogue, Meier argues, was the mutual attempt to define exactly what politics is and how it relates to the philosophical tradition and to modern society. Taking Hobbes's "war of all against all" as his inspiration, Schmitt challenged contemporary liberal society's unwillingness to admit that politics was literally "a matter of life and death." Meier's book insightfully reveals how Strauss's critique forced Schmitt to see that the Hobbesian state was, instead, the very foundation of the liberalism he so despised.
“Heinrich Meier’s treatment of Schmitt’s writings is morally analytical without moralizing, a remarkable feat in view of Schmitt’s past. He wishes to understand what Schmitt was after rather than to dismiss him out of hand or bowdlerize his thoughts for contemporary political purposes.”—Mark Lilla, New York Review of Books
Review
andldquo;Meier is deeply impressive in his mastery of Rousseauandrsquo;s oeuvre. With On the Happiness of the Philosophic Life, he presents a startlingly original interpretation of one of Rousseauandrsquo;s most beautiful and elusive worksandmdash;the Reveries. His interpretation is sure to be controversial, but it is presented with an elegance, intensity, and thoroughness that will command the attention of all serious Rousseau scholars and those broadly interested in the history of political philosophy.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Carl Schmitt was the most famous and controversial defender of political theology in the twentieth century. But in his best-known work,
The Concept of the Political, issued in 1927, 1932, and 1933, political considerations led him to conceal the dependence of his political theory on his faith in divine revelation. In 1932 Leo Strauss published a critical review of
Concept that initiated an extremely subtle exchange between Schmitt and Strauss regarding Schmitts critique of liberalism. Although Schmitt never answered Strauss publicly, in the third edition of his book he changed a number of passages in response to Strausss criticisms. Now, in this elegant translation by J. Harvey Lomax, Heinrich Meier shows us what the remarkable dialogue between Schmitt and Strauss reveals about the development of these two seminal thinkers.
Meier contends that their exchange only ostensibly revolves around liberalism. At its heart, their “hidden dialogue” explores the fundamental conflict between political theology and political philosophy, between revelation and reasonand ultimately, the vital question of how human beings ought to live their lives.
“Heinrich Meiers treatment of Schmitts writings is morally analytical without moralizing, a remarkable feat in view of Schmitts past. He wishes to understand what Schmitt was after rather than to dismiss him out of hand or bowdlerize his thoughts for contemporary political purposes.”—Mark Lilla, New York Review of Books
Synopsis
Carl Schmitt is the most famous and controversial defender of political theology in our century. But in his best-known work, The Concept of the Political, issued in 1927, 1932, and 1933, political considerations led him to conceal the dependence of his entire political theory on his faith in divine revelation. In 1932 political philosopher Leo Strauss published a critical review of The Concept of the Political that earned him Schmitt's respect and initiated an extremely subtle interchange between Schmitt and Strauss regarding Schmitt's critique of liberalism. Although Schmitt never answered Strauss publicly, in the third edition of his book he changed key passages in response to Strauss's criticisms without ever acknowledging them. In the present book Heinrich Meier astutely follows the trail left by the interlocutors. The present volume includes a new translation of Strauss's classic essay and the first English version of three letters to Schmitt from Strauss. It is essential reading for students of politics, political theory, and philosophy.
Synopsis
Rousseauandrsquo;s Reveries has been primarily viewed much more as an autobiographical text, than as a philosophical one. Heinrich Meierandrsquo;s book argues that it is in fact a work of philosophy, specifically on the happiness that results from leading a philosophic life. With the Reveries constantly in view, the first part of Meierandrsquo;s volume explores the philosophic life more generally: its foundations, distinctive features, political conditions, and the happiness it provides. Meier then turns in the second part of his volume to discuss a famous section of Rousseauandrsquo;s Emile, the andldquo;Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar.andrdquo; It is this section that led to the book being banned in Paris and Geneva.. Meier argues that in this text Rousseau lays out the foundations necessary for one to lead a happy, non-philosophic life. Meierandrsquo;s analysis provides the first detailed philosophic interpretation of this important text as a whole. More generally, Meier also makes a persuasive case for the philosophical significance of Rousseauandrsquo;s thoughtandmdash;a position many philosophers do not shareandmdash;and explores in depth his philosophical theology. The fruit of thirty-five years of study of Rousseauandmdash;Meier is the editor of an acclaimed German critical edition of Rousseauandrsquo;s Discours sur landrsquo;inandeacute;galitandeacute;andmdash;Meierandrsquo;s volume is an indispensable guide to understanding Rousseau and the nature of the philosophic life.
Synopsis
On the Happiness of the Philosophic Life presents Heinrich Meierandrsquo;s confrontation with Rousseauandrsquo;s
Randecirc;veries, the philosopherandrsquo;s most beautiful and daring work, as well as his last and least understood. Bringing to bear more than thirty years of study of Rousseau, Meier unfolds his stunningly original interpretation in two parts.and#160;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
The first part of On the Happiness of the Philosophic Life approaches the Randecirc;veries not as another autobiographical text in the tradition of the Confessions and the Dialogues, but as a reflection on the philosophic life and the distinctive happiness it provides. The second turns to a detailed analysis of a work referred to in the Randecirc;veries, the andldquo;Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar,andrdquo; which triggered Rousseauandrsquo;s political persecution when it was originally published as part of andEacute;mile.and#160; In his examination of this most controversial of Rousseauandrsquo;s writings, which aims to lay the foundations for a successful nonphilosophic life, Meier brings to light the differences between natural religion as expressed by the Vicar and Rousseauandrsquo;s natural theology. Together, the two reciprocally illuminating parts of this study provide an indispensable guide to Rousseau and to the understanding of the nature of the philosophic life.
About the Author
Heinrich Meier is director of the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation in Munich, professor of philosophy at the University of Munich, and permanent visiting professor in the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. He is the author of eight books, including Carl Schmitt and Leo Strauss and The Lesson of Carl Schmitt.Robert Berman is professor of philosophy at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Table of Contents
Translator's Acknowledgments
Foreword, by Joseph Cropsey
Preface to the American Edition
Preface to the German Edition
Carl Schmitt and Leo Strauss: The Hidden Dialogue
Leo Strauss: Notes on Carl Schmitt, The Concept of the Political
Editorial Note
Leo Strauss: Three Letters to Carl Schmitt
Editorial Note
Translator's Notes
Index