Philosophy, History, and Tyranny: Reexamining the Debate between Leo Strauss and Alexandre Kojeve (SUNY series in the Thought and Legacy of Leo Strauss)

__On Tyranny__ remains a perennial favorite, possessing a timelessness that few philosophical or scholarly debates have ever achieved. On one hand, __On Tyranny__ is the first book-length work in Leo Strauss's extended study of Xenophon, and his "Restatement" retains a vivacity and directness that is sometimes absent in his later works. On the other, "Tyranny and Wisdom" is perhaps the most succinct yet fullest articulation of Alexandre Kojeve's overall political thought, and it presents what may be the most uncompromising alternative to Strauss's position as a whole. This volume contains for the first time a comprehensive and critical examination of the debate from scholars well versed in the thought of Strauss, Kojeve, Hegel, Heidegger, and the end of history thesis. Of particular interest will be the appendix, which offers for the first time Kojeve's unabridged response to Strauss, a response previously available only from the Fonds Kojeve at Le Bibliotheque Nationale de France. Accessible to students and scholars alike, this volume works equally well in the classroom and as a resource for more advanced research. Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 10 Brief Biographies of Strauss and Kojève 13 Overview of the Present Volume 17 1. The Place of the Strauss-Kojève Debate in the Work of Leo Strauss 24 Kojève, Hegel, and Heidegger 27 Modernity, Historical Philosophy, and Historicism 31 Recovery of the “Natural World” 41 The Grounding of the Philosophic or Scientific Life 44 Strauss’s On Tyranny 47 Kojève’s “Tyranny and Wisdom” 49 Strauss’s “Restatement” 50 The Subsequent Correspondence 57 2. The Philosophic Background of Alexandre Kojève’s “Tyranny and Wisdom” 60 The Origin of Self-Consciousness and the Desire for Recognition 63 The Master-Slave Dialectic and the End of History 67 The End of Philosophy 80 The Wise Man 82 The Conditions of Absolute Wisdom 85 Tyranny and Wisdom 87 3. The Place of the Bible in the Strauss-Kojève Debate 92 Kojève, Revelation, and History 96 Strauss, the Bible, and Modernity 105 Strauss, the Bible, and “Pseudo-Rationalism” 116 4. Leo Strauss’s Decisive Reply to Alexandre Kojève 128 The Defense of Utopias 130 The Sufficiency of the Classical Framework 134 The Relation between Wisdom and Rule 141 The Political Action of the Philosophers 155 The Best Social Order 158 Concluding Remarks 162 5. Who Won the Strauss-Kojève Debate? The Case for Alexandre Kojève in His Dispute with Leo Strauss 166 The Character of the Debate and the Common Ground 170 Subjective Certainty and Recognition, Philosophy and the Quest for Truth 180 The Possibility and Desirability of the Universal and Homogeneous State 194 Conclusion 204 6. The Epistolary Exchange between Leo Strauss and Alexandre Kojève 206 The Genesis of the French Edition of On Tyranny 209 The Issue of Being 211 The Letters and the Idea of Philosophy 225 7. Kojève’s Hegel, Hegel’s Hegel, and Strauss’s Hegel: A Middle Range Approach to the Debate about Tyranny and Totalitarianism 228 Tyranny, Wisdom, and the Missing Middle Range in On Tyranny 230 Strauss and the Middle Range in Other Works 236 Strauss on Ancient versus Modern Wisdom 242 Kojève’s Hegel and Hegel’s Hegel 246 Strauss’s Hegel 250 On Tyranny and Totalitarianism 253 8. History, Tyranny, and the Presuppositions of Philosophy: Strauss, Kojève, and Heidegger in Dialogue 260 The Idea of Philosophy 260 Being and History 265 9. The Notion of an End of History: Philosophic Origins and Recent Applications 274 Introduction 274 Philosophical Background of the End of History: Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx 275 Kojève’s Treatment of the End of History 281 The End of History Toward the End of the Twentieth Century: Francis Fukuyama 288 Conclusion: Strauss’s Abiding Interest in Kojève’s Historical Philosophy 293 Appendix A: Critical Edition of Alexandre Kojève, “Tyrannie et sagesse” 296 Appendix B: “Tyranny and Wisdom” 300 Editorial Notes 364 Contributors 368 Index 374 The First Comprehensive Examination Of The Debate Between Leo Strauss And Alexandre Kojève On The Subject Of Philosophy And Tyranny. On Tyranny Remains A Perennial Favorite, Possessing A Timelessness That Few Philosophical Or Scholarly Debates Have Ever Achieved. On One Hand, On Tyranny Is The First Book-length Work In Leo Strauss’s Extended Study Of Xenophon, And His “restatement” Retains A Vivacity And Directness That Is Sometimes Absent In His Later Works. On The Other, “tyranny And Wisdom” Is Perhaps The Most Succinct Yet Fullest Articulation Of Alexandre Kojève’s Overall Political Thought, And It Presents What May Be The Most Uncompromising Alternative To Strauss’s Position As A Whole. This Volume Contains For The First Time A Comprehensive And Critical Examination Of The Debate From Scholars Well Versed In The Thought Of Strauss, Kojève, Hegel, Heidegger, And The End Of History Thesis. Of Particular Interest Will Be The Appendix, Which Offers For The First Time Kojève’s Unabridged Response To Strauss, A Response Previously Available Only From The Fonds Kojève At Le Bibliothèque Nationale De France. Accessible To Students And Scholars Alike, This Volume Works Equally Well In The Classroom And As A Resource For More Advanced Research.-- Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. The Place Of The Strauss-kojeve Debate In The Work Of Leo Strauss / Timothy W. Burns -- 2. The Philosophic Background Of Alexandre Kojeve's Tyranny And Wisdom / Murray S. Y. Bessette -- 3. The Place Of The Bible In The Strauss-kojeve Debate / Daniel E. Burns -- 4. Leo Strauss's Decisive Reply To Alexandre Kojeve / Nasser Behnegar -- 5. Who Won The Strauss-kojeve Debate? The Case For Alexandre Kojeve In His Dispute With Leo Strauss / Bryan-paul Frost -- 6. The Epistolary Exchange Between Leo Strauss And Alexandre Kojeve / Mark J. Lutz -- 7. Kojeve's Hegel, Hegel's Hegel, And Strauss's Hegel: A Middle Range Approach To The Debate About Tyranny And Totalitarianism / Waller R. Newell -- 8. History, Tyranny, And The Presuppositions Of Philosophy: Strauss, Kojeve, And Heidegger In Dialogue / Richard L. Velkley -- 9. The Notion Of An End Of History: Philosophic Origins And Recent Applications / James H. Nichols, Jr. Edited By Timothy W. Burns And Bryan-paul Frost. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.