Leo Strauss lectures on Plato's Meno 1 - [1966]

[illmaticDH]

For those who are interested, The Leo Strauss Center has this lecture, which is an hour and twenty minutes long in total, as well as fifteen other lectures of similar length as part of Strauss's course on Plato's Meno.

They are available for download at this URL:

leostrausscenter.uchicago.edu/­course/plato-meno-spring-quart­er-1966

[mightybaboonking]

A wonderful recording. Thanks so much for posting!

[fomastephanovitch]

I'm from NZ and I'm stunned by the clarity and sophistication of "neo-conservatism".

It's a justification of liberal values jeez!

[ShahidMiller]

Thanks for posting ... I just started reading Natural Right and History tonight. This lecture has some interesting resonances with what I have read so far, certainly!

[llapole]

Fantastic! It's great to hear Strauss speak after admiring his written work for so long.

[exenrontexas]

Strauss came to America on a Rockefeller grant arranged by Carl Schmitt. Schmitt was the German laywer for Fritz Thyssen, Prescott BUSH and...ADOLF HITLER. Strauss is a Jew and the father of the NEOCONS. Many Jews were caught by surprise by the fascists power to harm them in Europe and later ADOPTED the same tactics to gain power and control over the world around them. THUS we have the rise of the NEOCONS. NEOCONS are fascists without the anti-semitism.

[JulesTheophraste]

Before repeating such silliness, did you ever read anything by Leo Strauss? Before accusing people to ba fascists, did you ever intempted to collect evidences?

Your practices are really those of totalitarians that Strauss denounces!

[MrAllanBloom]

I have allowed the above comments to be viewed because it is necessary to see the kinds of attacks that have been and continue to be made against Strauss. One mustn't forget that Socrates was hauled into court on capital charges, by Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon. Strauss too is accused of being a "corrupter of the young."

[alfarabi73]

MrAllanBloom,

You are conflating two entirely different issues. While I agree that "exenrotexas" claim is scurrilous and misleading, Socrates was indeed guilty of the charges brought against him by Meletus, et al.--something that a careful reading of both Plato and Xenophon concede, as well as Strauss himself (and his disciples).

[JohananRaatz]

"NEOCONS are fascists without the anti-semitism."

If you had read Strauss's Natural Right and History you would understand just how absurd that statement is. The first part of his book deals with bringing moral judgments into politics so as to EXPLICITLY AVOID the evils of the 20th century like communism and fascism.

[Facade19]

Alan thank you very much for these videos!

I am remember that I have read these very words in "What is Political Philosophy." But hearing Strauss speak is on a whole other plane. One who truly listens will learn from Strauss, regardless of what we think of him.

[ModernMaverick]

Beautiful! Just like Socrates philosophizing in the agora, Strauss philosphizes near the streets--you can hear the cars passing by!

[interpellare]

Thanks so much for posting.

I could probably listen to him lecture right into the morning.

[Tristanoliver]

I'm so glad I found you Mr Allan Bloom. Are these the tapes to the transcripts of Strauss' lectures?

[MrAllanBloom]

Yes, this is the voice of Leo Strauss lecturing in 1966 on Plato's Meno.

The series of the first lecture will contain some 6 segments. There were 16 or 17 lectures delivered, unless I am mistaken.