LEO STRAUSS AND THE REVIVAL OF CLASSICAL ISLAMIC POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

UDK 3221:141]:28
        1Strauss L.

This article analyses the contribution of Leo Strauss to the efforts of recognising and rehabilitating the political dimension within the classical Islamic philosophy. As one of the most renowened political philosophers of the 20^th century, Strauss is particularly interested in the political thoughts of Al-Farabi, whom he considered as the greatest philosopher of the classical period since Aristotle. Works of Al-Farabi were first introduced to him by a rabbi and a great philosopher of the Arab tradition, Maimonides, who believed Al-Farabi to be the greatest thinker of Falsafa. In his study of both these great scholars, Staruss concludes that they both used esoteric style of writing in order to avoid a possible conflict with dominant conventional streem of thought. This style, which  includes hiding of political message within deeper layers of the text, is, according to Staruss, characteristic of a larger part of all classical political philosophers from Plato to Maimonides. With this style classical aouthors imply the existance of an educated elite and uneducated masses as universal categories.