Synopses & Reviews
On Tyranny is Leo Strauss's classic reading of Xenophon's dialogue,
Hiero or
Tyrannicus, in which the tyrant Hiero and the poet Simonides discuss the advantages and disadvantages of exercising tyranny. This edition includes a translation of the dialogue, a critique of the commentary by the French philosopher Alexandre Kojandegrave;ve, Strauss's restatement of his position in light of Kojandegrave;ve's comments, and finally, the complete Strauss-Kojandegrave;ve correspondence.
"Through [Strauss's] interpretation Xenophon appears to us as no longer the somewhat dull and flat author we know, but as a brilliant and subtle writer, an original and profound thinker. What is more, in interpreting this forgotten dialogue, Strauss lays bare great moral and political problems that are still ours." and#8212;Alexandre Kojandegrave;ve, Critique
"On Tyranny is a complex and stimulating book with its 'parallel dialogue' made all the more striking since both participants take such unusual, highly provocative positions, and so force readers to face substantial problems in what are often wholly unfamiliar, even shocking ways." and#8212;Robert Pippin, History and Theory
"Every political scientist who tries to disentangle himself from the contemporary confusion over the problems of tyranny will be much indebted to this study and inevitably use it as a starting point."and#8212;Eric Voegelin, The Review of Politics
Leo Strauss (1899-1973) was the Robert Maynard Hutchins Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago.
Description
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
About the Author
Leo Strauss (1899andndash;1973) was one of the preeminent political philosophers of the twentieth century. He is the author of many books, among them
The Political Philosophy of Hobbes,
Natural Right and History,and
Spinozaandrsquo;s Critique of Religion, all published by the University of Chicago Press.
Victor Gourevitch is the William Griffin Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Wesleyan University.and#160;Michael S. Roth is the president of Wesleyan University and the author of several books, including Memory, Trauma, and History.
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
I. On Tyranny
Xenophon: Hiero or Tyrannicus
Leo Strauss: On Tyranny
Notes on On Tyranny
II. The Strauss-Kojandegrave;ve Debate
Alexandre Kojandegrave;ve: Tyranny and Wisdom
Leo Strauss: Restatement on Xenophon's Hiero
III. The Strauss-Kojandegrave;ve Correspondence
Letters
Editorial Notes
Name Index
Subject Index