1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910824568703321

Autore

Gottfried Paul

Titolo

Leo Strauss and the conservative movement in America : a critical appraisal / / Paul Edward Gottfried

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : Cambridge University Press, 2012

ISBN

1-107-23063-2

1-139-21014-9

1-280-48541-8

9786613580399

1-139-22314-3

1-139-21834-4

1-139-21525-6

1-139-22486-7

1-139-22143-4

1-139-08359-7

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (ix, 182 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Disciplina

320.52092

Soggetti

Conservatism - United States - History - 20th century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction -- A significant life -- Constructing a methodology -- The method under assault -- From political theory to political practice -- Political theory as political philosophy -- Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

This book offers an original interpretation of the achievement of Leo Strauss, stressing how his ideas and followers reshaped the American conservative movement. The conservative movement that reached out to Strauss and his legacy was extremely fluid and lacked a self-confident leadership. Conservative activists and journalists felt a desperate need for academic acceptability, which they thought Strauss and his disciples would furnish. They also became deeply concerned with the problem of 'value relativism', which self-described conservatives thought Strauss had effectively addressed. But until recently, neither Strauss nor his disciples have considered themselves



to be 'conservatives'. Contrary to another misconception, Straussians have never wished to convert Americans to ancient political ideals and practices, except in a very selective rhetorical fashion. Strauss and his disciples have been avid champions of American modernity, and 'timeless' values as interpreted by Strauss and his followers often look starkly contemporary.