Leo Strauss on the Borders of Judaism, Philosophy, and History

InLeo Strauss on the Borders of Judaism, Philosophy, and History, Jeffrey A. Bernstein explores how the thought of Leo Strauss amounts to a model for thinking about the connection between philosophy, Jewish thought, and history. For Bernstein, Strauss shows that a close study of the history of philosophy—from the "ancients" to "medievals" to "moderns"—is necessary for one to appreciate the fundamental distinction between the forms of life Strauss terms "Jerusalem" and "Athens," that is, order through revealed Law and free philosophical thought, respectively. Through an investigation of Strauss's published texts; examination of his intellectual biography and history; and making use of correspondence, archival materials, and seminar transcripts, Bernstein shows how Strauss's concern with the relation between Judaism and philosophy spanned his entire career. His findings will be of use to those interested in the thought of Strauss, the history of Jewish thought, and the relation between religion, philosophy, and politics.

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction

Part I. On the Way to Jerusalem and Athens

1. The Theological-Political Problem, Strauss’s Critique of Modern “Jewish Philosophy,” and the Legacy of Kant

2. Strauss’s Maimonides

Part II. Jerusalem and Athens in Deed

3. Philosophy as a Platonic Dialogue, or Jerusalem and Athensin Jerusalem

4. The Theological-Political Significance of “What Is Political Philosophy?”

Part III. Conclusion

5. The Transmission of Philosophy as a Way of Life: Maimonides Viewed Through a Spinozan Lens

Notes
Bibliography
Index