History of Political Philosophy 3rd Edition by Leo Strauss (PDF)

Description

This volume provides an unequaled introduction to the thought of chief contributors to the Western tradition of political philosophy from classical Greek antiquity to the twentieth century. Written by specialists on the various philosophers, this third edition has been expanded significantly to include both new and revised essays.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I found this book to be compelling and broken into its parts in a digestible format. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Spinoza, Hume, Nietzche, Tocquerville, Mill, Hegel, Smith and Marx. If you are interested in understanding how we got to where we are with our political institutions and what were the main questions and concerns in the development of these institutions, this book is a first rate tour that will enrich your comprehension of the Western political tradition. It is a tome that is definitely an investment of time, but I’m confident in the opinion that this is well worth the time.

⭐I am approaching this review from the viewpoint of someone who has a bit of working knowledge on the subject of political philosophy. That said, it is important to recognize the monumental achievement of this collaboration. Each author treats his particular subject with expertise, and each author lays out the important works of political philosophy by each major political theorist. The authors point out (where appropriate) the distinctions in the political writings of the philosophers (Augustine, Locke, Kant, Aquinas, Plato, Aristotle,etc), from their otherwise non-political oriented works. This is important, as not every thinker discussed is a political philosopher in the strictest sense. Rather, some of the philosophers are known primarily for their contributions in other branches of philosophy (Kant-Metaphysics, Epistemology; Descartes – metaphysics, epistemology; Locke – Epistemology; Augustine – Theology; Aquinas – Theology; etc). This is not to point out a shortcoming of the work but rather one of its greatest strengths. Five stars for an excellent and diverse treatment of highly complex subject matter. Caution: not for new comers; I would probably recommend an encyclopedia to get your feet wet before delving into this advanced work.

⭐Most of the political philosophy surveys I’ve found tend to revolve around around subject matters and will tell you how all the major players thought about that particular issue. This book feels more old school in the sense that the editors chose to show the major players’ most influential ideas in political philosophy (to show all their ideas would produce a book at least ten times as big), in chronological order. You will not learn everything there is to know about political philosophy from this book, but I believe that it will give you the most bang for you’re buck if you only plan on reading one or two books on the subject, or if you are looking for an amazing introduction to get you started. Biggest problem with it that anyone can see off the bat is that there are a few people in the book that could have been taken out and replaced by some more notable and influential players, at least Rawls and Nozick should have made it.

⭐Leo Strauss was known for his close careful deep reading of classic Western Civilization philosophic texts. It shows here with him and his students doing a magnificent job. This book can be looked upon as a survey of the best of western thought. Now Strauss in his readings stresses taking the authors on their own terms in the context of their other works and their fellow countrymen who they are engaged in a dialogue with. We should judge them as true or false or indeterminate in our thinking about them–grapple with them and take them seriously. According to Strauss we are not to relativize them as progressing to our more enlightened modern view. In fact Strauss thinks classic political philosophy may be an aid to resolving what he takes to be our present crisis of modernity. Be that as it may these readings can be very deep such as the one on Nietzche. Eric Warwick

⭐This is a must read for any person serious about understanding politics. It is the best book out there on western political philosophy.

⭐great book highly recommend

⭐I order at least 40-50 books per year, I think, and this is the only book I’ve purchased where the binding is so bad that the pages began to fall out at first use. I don’t know if it’s cheap glue or a bad batch or something, but my new copy, used primarily as a reference and handled gently, is falling apart. I’m not sure what alternatives there are, but be forewarned. At this price, the quality should be much better.

⭐I read the first chapter but now find it difficult to get further. It is outstanding. I had 7 years of ancient greek in school and only now, at a considerably later age, I enjoy this essay on Tukydides and the perspective to read those to come later in the book. Good times we live in, at least in thos respect.

⭐Very informative book to anyone who started studying political science

⭐The book is well written, but wow, this is the ugliest paperback in my bookshelf. And it is a very clumsily proportioned mammoth of a book, so you will have to hold it with both hands at all times.

⭐very good

⭐Excellent

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