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Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy: On Original Forgetting
In this groundbreaking work, Richard L. Velkley examines the complex philosophical relationship between Martin Heidegger and Leo Strauss. Velkley argues that both thinkers provide searching analyses of the philosophical tradition’s origins in radical questioning. For Heidegger and Strauss, the recovery of the original premises of philosophy cannot be separated from rethinking the very possibility of genuine philosophizing.
Common views of the influence of Heidegger’s thought on Strauss suggest that, after being inspired early on by Heidegger’s dismantling of the philosophical tradition, Strauss took a wholly separate path, spurning modernity and pursuing instead a renewal of Socratic political philosophy. Velkley rejects this reading and maintains that Strauss’s engagement with the challenges posed by Heidegger—as well as by modern philosophy in general—formed a crucial and enduring framework for his lifelong philosophical project. More than an intellectual biography or a mere charting of influence, Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy is a profound consideration of these two philosophers’ reflections on the roots, meaning, and fate of Western rationalism.- GenresPhilosophy
208 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 12, 2024
Richard Velkley’s Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy: On Original Forgetting (2011) is a deeply philosophical examination of two towering figures of 20th-century thought, Martin Heidegger and Leo Strauss. The book explores their shared concern with the “origins” of philosophy, their divergent responses to the crisis of modernity, and the implications of their ideas for the practice of philosophy. Velkley offers a nuanced and penetrating analysis that illuminates the intersections and tensions between these thinkers while situating their work in broader philosophical and historical contexts.
Velkley, a distinguished scholar of modern and contemporary philosophy, aims to uncover how Heidegger and Strauss addressed the fundamental problem of “original forgetting”—the idea that Western philosophy has lost sight of its essential nature by becoming entangled in metaphysical assumptions and historical contingencies. Both Heidegger and Strauss critiqued modernity for its departure from the original insights of ancient thought, yet they approached this issue from profoundly different perspectives.
The book seeks to bridge the gap between these two figures, whose intellectual legacies are often discussed in isolation. Velkley highlights their shared focus on the origins of philosophy, their critiques of modernity, and their attempts to recover a more authentic mode of thinking. However, he also emphasizes their fundamental disagreements, particularly concerning the role of reason, revelation, and history in philosophical inquiry.
The book is divided into five chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of Heidegger’s and Strauss’s thought. Velkley begins by outlining their shared critique of modernity, which they both see as rooted in a loss of philosophical orientation. Heidegger locates this crisis in the metaphysical tradition that culminates in modern technology, while Strauss attributes it to the rejection of classical political philosophy in favor of historicism and relativism.
In subsequent chapters, Velkley explores Heidegger’s concept of “original forgetting” and his project of retrieving the pre-Socratic origins of philosophy. He contrasts this with Strauss’s turn to classical rationalism and his attempt to recover the political philosophy of Plato and Aristotle. Velkley’s analysis highlights Strauss’s view that Heidegger’s rejection of metaphysics and privileging of Being undermines the possibility of rational inquiry into political and ethical life.
One of the book’s most compelling sections is its discussion of Strauss’s critique of Heidegger’s relationship to modernity. Strauss saw Heidegger’s existential ontology as both a powerful critique of modernity and an inadequate response to its challenges, particularly because of its lack of a normative framework for guiding human life. For Strauss, the tension between reason and revelation offers a more fruitful path for addressing the crisis of modernity.
Velkley’s book is a model of philosophical scholarship, combining careful textual analysis with a deep understanding of the historical and intellectual contexts of Heidegger and Strauss. His ability to draw connections between their ideas without reducing one thinker to the other is a significant achievement. He respects the complexity of their thought while offering a clear and coherent narrative that sheds light on their intellectual relationship.
However, the book is not without limitations. Velkley’s focus on Heidegger and Strauss as critics of modernity can overshadow other dimensions of their thought, such as their contributions to aesthetics, theology, or practical philosophy. Additionally, the text assumes a high level of familiarity with both thinkers, making it challenging for readers who are not already well-versed in their work.
Another potential critique is that Velkley does not fully engage with the broader reception of Heidegger and Strauss, particularly the controversies surrounding Heidegger’s involvement with National Socialism and Strauss’s perceived elitism. While these issues may fall outside the scope of the book, they are nonetheless relevant to understanding the broader implications of their ideas.
Despite these limitations, Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy is a significant contribution to the study of 20th-century philosophy. Velkley’s analysis offers valuable insights into the intellectual relationship between two of its most influential figures, shedding light on their shared concerns and enduring disagreements. The book also raises important questions about the role of philosophy in addressing the crises of modernity and the possibilities for recovering a more authentic engagement with the questions of existence, politics, and meaning.
For scholars of Heidegger, Strauss, or modern philosophy more broadly, Velkley’s work is an indispensable resource. It challenges readers to think critically about the premises of philosophy itself and to consider the ways in which different philosophical traditions can inform and challenge one another.
Richard Velkley’s Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy is an intellectually rigorous and thought-provoking exploration of two of the most profound critiques of modernity. While its density and specialized focus may limit its accessibility, its insights into the philosophical foundations and tensions of Heidegger’s and Strauss’s thought make it an essential text for anyone interested in the intersection of metaphysics, political philosophy, and the history of ideas.
GPT
Velkley, a distinguished scholar of modern and contemporary philosophy, aims to uncover how Heidegger and Strauss addressed the fundamental problem of “original forgetting”—the idea that Western philosophy has lost sight of its essential nature by becoming entangled in metaphysical assumptions and historical contingencies. Both Heidegger and Strauss critiqued modernity for its departure from the original insights of ancient thought, yet they approached this issue from profoundly different perspectives.
The book seeks to bridge the gap between these two figures, whose intellectual legacies are often discussed in isolation. Velkley highlights their shared focus on the origins of philosophy, their critiques of modernity, and their attempts to recover a more authentic mode of thinking. However, he also emphasizes their fundamental disagreements, particularly concerning the role of reason, revelation, and history in philosophical inquiry.
The book is divided into five chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of Heidegger’s and Strauss’s thought. Velkley begins by outlining their shared critique of modernity, which they both see as rooted in a loss of philosophical orientation. Heidegger locates this crisis in the metaphysical tradition that culminates in modern technology, while Strauss attributes it to the rejection of classical political philosophy in favor of historicism and relativism.
In subsequent chapters, Velkley explores Heidegger’s concept of “original forgetting” and his project of retrieving the pre-Socratic origins of philosophy. He contrasts this with Strauss’s turn to classical rationalism and his attempt to recover the political philosophy of Plato and Aristotle. Velkley’s analysis highlights Strauss’s view that Heidegger’s rejection of metaphysics and privileging of Being undermines the possibility of rational inquiry into political and ethical life.
One of the book’s most compelling sections is its discussion of Strauss’s critique of Heidegger’s relationship to modernity. Strauss saw Heidegger’s existential ontology as both a powerful critique of modernity and an inadequate response to its challenges, particularly because of its lack of a normative framework for guiding human life. For Strauss, the tension between reason and revelation offers a more fruitful path for addressing the crisis of modernity.
Velkley’s book is a model of philosophical scholarship, combining careful textual analysis with a deep understanding of the historical and intellectual contexts of Heidegger and Strauss. His ability to draw connections between their ideas without reducing one thinker to the other is a significant achievement. He respects the complexity of their thought while offering a clear and coherent narrative that sheds light on their intellectual relationship.
However, the book is not without limitations. Velkley’s focus on Heidegger and Strauss as critics of modernity can overshadow other dimensions of their thought, such as their contributions to aesthetics, theology, or practical philosophy. Additionally, the text assumes a high level of familiarity with both thinkers, making it challenging for readers who are not already well-versed in their work.
Another potential critique is that Velkley does not fully engage with the broader reception of Heidegger and Strauss, particularly the controversies surrounding Heidegger’s involvement with National Socialism and Strauss’s perceived elitism. While these issues may fall outside the scope of the book, they are nonetheless relevant to understanding the broader implications of their ideas.
Despite these limitations, Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy is a significant contribution to the study of 20th-century philosophy. Velkley’s analysis offers valuable insights into the intellectual relationship between two of its most influential figures, shedding light on their shared concerns and enduring disagreements. The book also raises important questions about the role of philosophy in addressing the crises of modernity and the possibilities for recovering a more authentic engagement with the questions of existence, politics, and meaning.
For scholars of Heidegger, Strauss, or modern philosophy more broadly, Velkley’s work is an indispensable resource. It challenges readers to think critically about the premises of philosophy itself and to consider the ways in which different philosophical traditions can inform and challenge one another.
Richard Velkley’s Heidegger, Strauss, and the Premises of Philosophy is an intellectually rigorous and thought-provoking exploration of two of the most profound critiques of modernity. While its density and specialized focus may limit its accessibility, its insights into the philosophical foundations and tensions of Heidegger’s and Strauss’s thought make it an essential text for anyone interested in the intersection of metaphysics, political philosophy, and the history of ideas.
GPT
July 7, 2021
Once again Velkley captivates and stuns me. Like is the case for any really profound book, I am left awestruck by it. There’s too much I still don’t comprehend! But the comparison between Strauss and Heidegger is very fruitful for understanding both. A must read.
November 12, 2018
excellent account of late Heidegger and Strauss' "modern" revisit of ancient philosophy. could use better editing to rid of some redundancies, tho
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews