Crisis of the Strauss Divided : Essays on Leo Strauss and Straussianism, East and West

Harry V. Jaffa, one of Strauss’s most influential students and an ardent participant in the internal divisions among Straussians, brings together his key contributions to the battle to define Strauss’s legacy. The collection includes an important original essay, published here for the first time, “Straussian Geography: A Memoir and Commentary.”

“Leo Strauss (1899-1973) was the greatest mind in political philosophy in the twentieth century, and possibly in other centuries as well. That, I am well aware, is a judgment I share with very few, if any.” So writes Harry V. Jaffa in his epilogue to this volume. Including an extensive unpublished essay entitled “Straussian Geography: A Memoir and Commentary,” Crisis of the Strauss Divided brings together a collection of Jaffa’s published arguments defending and explaining that judgment, written during the 40 years since Strauss’s death. The volume includes arguments of those who have disagreed with Jaffa about Strauss''s teaching and about the nature of political philosophy. These wide ranging exchanges explore many of the great themes of political philosophy and, in particular, the implications of Strauss''s thinking for America and modern civilization.