Episode 135 ... Leo Strauss - Ancients vs. Moderns

This podcast episode explores Leo Strauss's critique of modern rationality and its implications for political philosophy. The speaker begins by addressing criticisms of rationality, then introduces Strauss's perspective, contrasting the "ancients" (who sought ideal forms and values) with the "moderns" (focused on the real and value neutrality). Strauss argued that modernity's value-neutral approach leads to relativism and nihilism, ultimately advocating a return to a value-based political system inspired by ancient Greek thought. The episode concludes by discussing the nature of philosophy as a way of life, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging problems over prematurely seeking solutions. A key example used is the contrast between the ancient Greek pursuit of an ideal state and the modern focus on creating a practically achievable, value-neutral state.