Crisis of the Strauss Divided: Essays on Leo Strauss and Straussianism, East and West
Among Straussian publications on American politics (to say nothing of non-Straussian), none excels Harry Jaffa’s masterpiece,A New Birth of Freedom. InCrisis of the Strauss Divided, Jaffa explains to his critics why a defense of Lincoln and the Founders is, paradoxically, consistent with political philosophy — which many equate with an apolitical interpretation of Great Books. Political philosophy means nothing without a lively concern with the problems of life here and now.(Thomas G. West)This is some very intricate stuff, and requires setting aside a good chunk to time to work through. But worth it.(Powerline)Crisis of the Strauss Dividedgathers together 19 essays. Readers. . .will be pleasantly surprised by the later entries' civil, engaging tone. . . .Harry Jaffa has developed a distinctive political philosophy, one that places political and moral questions a the center of its concerns. Though sharing certain characteristics with the sweeping philosophies of history, Jaffa's account puts reason, rather than History, firmly in the driver's seat.(Claremont Review Of Books)Jaffa is almost single-handedly the creator of what has been known as West Coast Straussianism. . . .Crisis of the Strauss Dividedconsists of 19 essays, the most revealing of which is the semi-autobiographal "Straussian Geography."(The New York Times)