My own riffs on the Straussians begin at http://www.davidbrin.com/neoromantics.html
What follows are snippet extracts: In "A Classicist's Legacy: New Empire Builders" James Atlas describes the impact of Professor Leo Strauss on many leading neoconservatives, Bush administration officials, journalists, and intellectuals, e.g. Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Irving Kristol, Bill Kristol, Gary Schmitt, and Francis Fukuyama. A refugee during WWII, Strauss subsequently taught classical political theory in the uniquely faux-European intellectual ambiance of the University of Chicago, stressing the notion -- brought over from his festered home continent -- that classical Greek and Roman philosophy is the key to political wisdom for today as much as in the past. His followers have since promoted neo-platonism -- devotion to a paramount system of well-ordered beliefs, in preference to gritty secular pragmatism. In March 2003, The New York Times Magazine published "The Philosopher of Islamic Terror" by Paul Berman, describing the writings of Sayyid Qutb, one of the most influential philosophers behind modern Islamic radicalism. Qutb's teachings call for political and social movements that will create a new society, defeating corrupt modernism, and especially dualism -- the division of the world between sacred and secular realms. These teachings found fertile ground in a network of Islamic schools founded under the aegis of the Wahhabi sect, and lubricated with revenues from the sale of Saudi Arabian oil. What commonalities could I possibly see between Islamic fundamentalism and today's American neoconservative movement? I suggest that these are two of the most vigorous and driven essentialist or incantation-based ideological movements of our time. Nostalgic, resentful, and grounded upon unquestionable core liturgical teachings, each is driven by a sense of destiny and contempt for those who disagree. It is vital that we pay attention to these common elements -- and many others -- along with their implications. Now of course American neoconservatism and Islamic fundamentalism would -- at first sight -- appear to be polar opposites. Indeed, that appearance is deliberately promoted by both groups. Many neoconservatives speak of struggle -- even war between the Christian and Muslim worlds -- just as followers of Qutb do. They call for a return to values-based decision making in American society, with those values clearly and explicitly rooted in core religious traditions. While emphasizing cultural conflict with liberals and humanists within Western Civilization, they promote aggressive opposition to non-Western cultural styles overseas. ... Ironic? That tormented, dogma-wracked Europe should dare -- right after WWII -- to preach at happy, progressive, tolerant and pragmatic America? Yet, Strauss's followers gobbled up a fervidly romantic nationalism -- cosmetically americanized -- but modelled on the same thought patterns that had turned the Old World into a living hell while making Strauss a homeless exile. (See books by by Norton and Mann, cited below.) ---------------------------- TODAY AS MUCH AS IN THE PAST: How can anyone, reading Thucydides, Plutarch or Gibbon, imagine the Greeks, Hellenists or Romans had anything to teach us about political wisdom, except as cautionary warnings? Few figures in the annals, other than Pericles -- and maybe Cincinnatus -- behaved with the level of maturity we now demand from Cub Scouts. WHat I find hilarious is that the Straussians tout Thucidydes, claiming that no westerner is qualified to make historical judgments without this background. AND I AGREE! But they are so ensnared by superficialities, the realpolitik ruthlessness displayed by the post-Periclean Athenians, for example. And the anti-democratic leanings of Thucidydes himself. Alaso, I agree with the neocons on so many of their superficial statements and rationalizations, like the urgent mission of America right now... while perceiving them to be utterly mad at deeper levels. What they ignore is that Thucydides - despite himself - portrays just one man who could be called a real hero, as seen in modern eyes. Pericles. And Pericles was the diametric opposite of the neocons' beloved Plato, in every way, emphasizing truth and accountability and openness and calm... No the character they resemble is Alcibiades. All the arrogance. All the evasion. All the recklessness and ego. Read Thucydides, and shiver. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
