Hobbes' new morality: The Leviathan and modernity according Leo Strauss and Michael Oakeshott
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2447-9012.espinosa.2025.228257Keywords:
Leo Strauss, Leviathan, Michael Oakeshott, modernity, Thomas HobbesAbstract
The aim of this article is to compare the interpretations that Leo Strauss and Michael Oakeshott offer of modernity and, more spe-cifically, of the role that Thomas Hobbes and his Leviathan play in this period. The text will be divided into four parts: 1. A critical evaluation of Strauss on the modern period; 2. The conception of modernity as it appears in Oakeshott’s work; 3. Hobbes’ role in the paradigm shift of modernity according to Strauss; 4. Oakeshott’s particular position on Hobbes and his work. Both authors place Hobbes as the central foundation of modern political thought, but they assign his work and modernity in general a dis-tinct value judgment. The Oakeshottian Hobbes is an ally who defends a skeptical and autonomous modernity. The Straussian Hobbes, on the other hand, is an opponent who transfigured classical political philosophy. The contrast between their respective positions on modernity, even though there is a convergence on the role of Hobbes, reveals two possible alter-natives for interpreting the modern period, as they appear in 20th century political philosophy.
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