Living the Theologico-Political Problem: Leo Strauss on the Common Ground of Philosophy and Theology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-20-2018

Publication Title

European Legacy

First page number:

1

Last page number:

23

Abstract

Leo Strauss argues that the “theologico-political” problem arose from the competing claims of rationalist philosophy and theology. Although he urges others to take sides in this debate, most theorists see it as insoluble, since it is rooted in competing traditions and different, non-demonstrable, epistemic principles. Strauss, however, argues that there is a common ground capable of sustaining a contest between the two: their appeal to the pre-philosophic understanding of justice as moral virtue. The contest between the Bible and Socratic-Platonic philosophy centers on which of the two better understands what justice is, what completes it, and in what respect it is good. Strauss enables us to see why Plato’s Socratic dialogues became indispensable models for classical and medieval philosophers who sought to meet the challenge of theology on the vital common ground of philosophy and theology.

Keywords

Leo Strauss; Political theology; Theologico-political; Plato

Disciplines

Political Theory

Language

English

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