assistant: Leo Strauss and Alexandre Kojeve were two prominent political philosophers who had differing views on the topics of politics, philosophy, morality, and esotericism. Both believed that philosophy was important for understanding the nature of reality and the meaning of life, and that power and violence play a role in human affairs. However, their views differed on the role of the Enlightenment, esotericism, and the purpose of philosophy. Strauss believed that ancient philosophers wrote in an esoteric manner, while Kojeve saw the Enlightenment as a turning point in  human history. While they did not agree on all aspects, they both believed in the importance of philosophy and the power of violence in human affairs.

prompter: May you explain in more details.

assistant: Certainly! Let me expand on the views of each philosopher and their agreements and disagreements.

Leo Strauss was a German-American political philosopher who was concerned with the decline of Western civilization and the loss of natural right and moral principles. He believed that ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle wrote in an esoteric manner, meaning that they wrote in a way that only a select few could understand. He believed that this was done in order to protect philosophy from being persecuted by the state and to preserve its true essence. Strauss also believed that the Enlightenment was a turning point in Western civilization, as it marked a departure from the traditional understanding of natural right and morality.

Alexandre Kojeve, on the other hand, was a French philosopher who saw the Enlightenment as a critical moment in human history. He believed that the Enlightenment brought about a new understanding of human beings as rational and self-interested beings, and that this understanding had a profound impact on politics, morality, and philosophy. He saw the state as the ultimate expression of human reason and believed that it was the role of the philosopher to provide a basis for understanding the state and its role in human affairs.

While both Strauss and Kojeve believed in the importance of philosophy and the role of violence in human affairs, they disagreed on the purpose of philosophy and the role of the Enlightenment. Strauss saw the purpose of philosophy as being to preserve the truth about reality and morality, while Kojeve saw it as being to provide a basis for understanding the state and its role in human affairs.

In conclusion, Leo Strauss and Alexandre Kojeve were two important political philosophers who had different views on the topics of politics, philosophy, morality, and esotericism. While they had some agreements, they also had fundamental disagreements about the purpose of philosophy and the role of the Enlightenment in Western civilization.

assistant: Leo Strauss and Alexandre Kojeve are both known for their contributions to political philosophy, but they have different perspectives on key themes.

Politics: Strauss is known for his political philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of classical political thought and the study of political regimes. He argues that modern political science must be rooted in an understanding of the works of ancient political philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. On the other hand, Kojeve is known for his interpretation of Hegel's philosophy, which argues that the state is the ultimate end of history and that politics is the foundation of all human activities.

Philosophy: Strauss is known for his rejection of historicism, which is the belief that all aspects of human life are subject to historical change and that there is no objective truth. He argues that there are eternal truths that are not subject to historical change. Kojeve, on the other hand, believes in the importance of historical events and argues that history is the source of all human knowledge.

Morality: Strauss is known for his belief in the importance of natural right, which is the idea that there are certain moral principles that are inherent in human nature and that are necessary for political society to function. Kojeve, on the other hand, argues that morality is subjective and that the state is the source of all moral authority.

Esotericism: Strauss is known for his belief in the idea of esotericism, which is the idea that certain truths can only be understood by a select few who have been properly educated. He argues that the political philosophers of the past often wrote in an esoteric manner to protect their ideas from those who would misuse them. Kojeve, on the other hand, does not believe in esotericism and argues that all knowledge should be accessible to all people.

In terms of agreements and disagreements between the two thinkers, Strauss and Kojeve disagree on the importance of classical political thought and the role of the state in morality. Strauss believes in the importance of natural right and the existence of eternal truths, while Kojeve argues that morality is subjective and that the state is the source of all moral authority. They also disagree on the idea of esotericism, with Strauss believing in its importance and Kojeve rejecting it.