「全体性」としての政治、「世界性」としての政治

【レオ・シュトラウスとハンナ・アーレントにおける「政治」と「哲学」】

抄録

  Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt are famous for their return to the ancient Greek thought and praxis, but their return is very different in terms of content. This paper examines the difference and the conflict of their political philosophy, and investigates the relationship of “politics” and “philosophy” in their thoughts.

  Firstly, the difference and the conflict is not that Strauss's main concern is the “philosophy” of ancient Greek, whereas Arendt sides with “politics” opposed to “philosophy”. From their critique of Heidegger's political commitment to Nazi Germany, their main question is not whether we should choose “politics” or “philosophy”, but what kind of “political-philosophy” is needed and available in their age. So, by clarifying what they say “politics” and “philosophy” in their texts, I will compare the meaning of the Strauss's “political-philosophy” with the Arendt's one.

  Secondly, in such contrast, I will focus on the key concept “the whole” in Strauss's thought, “the world” in Arendt's texts. In so doing, it will be clear that the difference and the conflict of their thoughts is between politics of “the whole” and that of “the world”. Politics of “the whole” and that of “the world” indicate the different political problems, the different relationship of “politics” and “philosophy”.