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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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 Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 12:41 am Post subject: Leo Strauss' Philosophy of Deception |
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Leo Strauss' Philosophy of Deception
By Jim Lobe, AlterNet. Posted May 19, 2003.
Many neoconservatives like Paul Wolfowitz are disciples of a philosopher who believed that the elite should use deception, religious fervor and perpetual war to control the ignorant masses.
http://www.alternet.org/story/15935/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Strauss |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 2:42 am Post subject: |
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What a load of crap. Not surprised that the OP is peddling this stuff, though. Leo Strauss did not condone lying to the people for corrupt ends. He did agree with an interpretation of Plato that suggests that one must present myths to the people for a number of reasons (for example, the myth of the cave).
Jim Lobe took most of his information from Strauss from this woman called Shadia Drury. He never presented any reason why Drury's interpretations should be trusted. As for Jim Lobe himself, his conclusions are dubious.
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As to what a Straussian world order might look like, the analogy was best captured by the philosopher himself in one of his – and student Allen Bloom's – many allusions to Gulliver's Travels. In Drury's words, "When Lilliput was on fire, Gulliver urinated over the city, including the palace. In so doing, he saved all of Lilliput from catastrophe, but the Lilliputians were outraged and appalled by such a show of disrespect."
The image encapsulates the neoconservative vision of the United States' relationship with the rest of the world – as well as the relationship between their relationship as a ruling elite with the masses. "They really have no use for liberalism and democracy, but they're conquering the world in the name of liberalism and democracy," Drury says. |
I'm well acquainted with the smears against Strauss presented by some specific leftist academics. And certainly it's true that some so-called 'Straussians' hold views akin to the views Drury is presenting. So Wolfowitz is a student of Strauss, so what? Aristotle was a student of Plato, but it is well-known (and documented) that they did not agree on anything. The fact of the matter is, Jim Lobe is so ignorant of Straussian philosophy that he had to trust one source on the matter. And that's hardly being a thorough journalist, much less being an honest political philosopher.
Here is a second side to the story. I should note that I think he comes down too hard on Strauss but I agree with some of what he has to say, especially concerning all the arch-leftist academic hubbub against Strauss. |
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