For a Phenomenology of the Political

Leo Strauss reader of Husserl

Abstract

The influence of Husserl's phenomenological criticism on Leo Strauss's political philosophy is the central theme of this paper. I will analyze Strauss's relationship with Husserl's insight, specifically, his critique of scientism and the centrality of the “lifeworld” to his philosophical approach. More precisely, Strauss's relationship with Husserl's mature texts that came to compose his monumental work “Die Krisis” will be shown. Thus, through visiting texts, letters and lectures left by Strauss, I intend to show that there is, in fact, a strong influence of Husserl in his rescue of some elements of classical political philosophy as an alternative for renewing contemporary social and political science.