The Cambridge Companion to Leo Strauss

Steven B. Smith, the Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science at Yale University, is the author of Reading Leo Strauss, Spinoza's Book of Life, and Spinoza, Liberalism, and Jewish Identity. His publications have appeared most recently in Hebraic Political Studies, Review of Politics, and Political Theory, and he has lectured throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel. Professor Smith has held the position of Master of Branford College at Yale since 1996.

"This collection of essays is learned, well argued, intelligent, and written by fine scholars from departments of philosophy and political science who are clearly independent thinkers...For those who are interested in Strauss's critique of modernity, or the nature of his debt to Heidegger, or his Spinozistic tendencies, this volume offers a very good place to start, especially for insiders." Perspectives on Politics, John R. Wallach, Hunter College and The Graduate Center, CUNY

• 1. Introduction: Leo Strauss today Steven B. Smith; 2. Leo Strauss: the outlines of a life Steven B. Smith; 3. Leo Strauss and the theologico-political predicament Leora Batnitsky; 4. Strauss's recovery of esotericism Laurence Lampert; 5. Strauss's return to pre-modern thought Catherine Zuckert; 6. Leo Strauss and the problem of the modern Stanley Rosen; 7. The medieval Arabic enlightenment Joel Kraemer; 8. 'To spare the vanquished and crush the arrogant': Leo Strauss's lecture on 'German nihilism' Susan Shell; 9. Leo Strauss's qualified embrace of liberal democracy William A. Galston; 10. Strauss and social science Nasser Behnegar; 11. The complementarity of political philosophy and liberal education in the thought of Leo Strauss Timothy Fuller; 12. Straussians Michael Zuckert.