On TyrannyOn Tyranny is Leo Strauss's classic reading of Xenophon's dialogue, Hiero or Tyrannicus, in which the tyrant Hiero and the poet Simonides discuss the advantages and disadvantages of exercising tyranny. This edition includes a translation of the dialogue, a critique of the commentary by the French philosopher Alexandre Kojčve, Strauss's restatement of his position in light of Kojčve's comments, and finally, the complete Strauss-Kojčve correspondence. "Through [Strauss's] interpretation Xenophon appears to us as no longer the somewhat dull and flat author we know, but as a brilliant and subtle writer, an original and profound thinker. What is more, in interpreting this forgotten dialogue, Strauss lays bare great moral and political problems that are still ours." —Alexandre Kojčve, Critique "On Tyranny is a complex and stimulating book with its 'parallel dialogue' made all the more striking since both participants take such unusual, highly provocative positions, and so force readers to face substantial problems in what are often wholly unfamiliar, even shocking ways." —Robert Pippin, History and Theory "Every political scientist who tries to disentangle himself from the contemporary confusion over the problems of tyranny will be much indebted to this study and inevitably use it as a starting point."—Eric Voegelin, The Review of Politics Leo Strauss (1899-1973) was the Robert Maynard Hutchins Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. |
Contents
Hiero or Tyrannicus | 3 |
On Tyranny | 22 |
Notes to On Tyranny | 106 |
The StraussKojeve Debate | 133 |
Tyranny and Wisdom | 135 |
Restatement on Xenophons Hiero | 177 |
The StraussKojeve Correspondence | 213 |
Letters | 217 |
Editorial Notes | 315 |
327 | |
333 | |
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Common terms and phrases
according action admiration advice Agesilaus Alcibiades Alexandre Kojčve Aristotle assertion become believe beneficent best regards CHICAGO Chicago 37 citizens classical Compare Hiero Compare Plato concerned consider conversation Critias Cyropaedia Cyrus Damascius Dear desire dialogue difference discussion envy fact fatherland fear friends Gorgias happiness Hegel Hellenica hence honor human ibid ideas Illinois Department indictment of tyranny interpretation Isocrates justice kind Kojčve to Strauss Kojčve's Koyré laws Leo Strauss letter Machiavelli means Memorabilia mentioned moral nature noble Oeconomicus Parmenides passage philoso philosopher Plato pleasant pleasure Political Science possible problem Proclus quest question reason recognition Republic rule ruler seems sense Simonides simply Socrates Sophist soul speak speech statesman Stranger Strauss to Kojčve subjects teaching thesis things thought Timaeus tion truth tyrant understand universal and homogeneous UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Vanves virtue whereas wisdom wise write Written in German Xenophon