“隐微传统”与政治哲学的重建——解读列奥·施特劳斯的“苏格拉底问题”

“Esoteric Tradition”and the Reconstruction of Political Philosophy ——An Interpretation to Leo Strauss' “Socratic Issues”

列奥·施特劳斯以其独特的古典政治哲学研究在当代西方思想界独树一帜。这一研究的核心在于重新解释思想史上的公案"苏格拉底"问题。通过比照古希腊诗人阿里斯托芬与哲人柏拉图的迥异描述,施特劳斯提出了著名的"两个苏格拉底"的说法,即缺乏自我认识的"少年苏格拉底"与具备实践智慧的"成年苏格拉底"。施特劳斯解释这一转变的关键原因在于:柏拉图的"成年苏格拉底"认识到哲人必须"下降到洞穴",哲学必须从事"哲学的政治"。同时,施特劳斯经由中古伊斯兰及犹太教哲人所重新发现的"显隐二重说"乃解释其"两个苏格拉底"说法的重要理论工具。正是通过融通地诠释"成年苏格拉底"之"显白教诲"的一般意义,施特劳斯强调了"政治哲学的优先性":政治哲学既实现了对哲学的"社会驯化",又保护了"热爱智慧"的哲学生活方式。

Leo Strauss is identified with his unique study on ＂Classical Political Philosophy＂in contemporary western intellectual,the core work of which is to reinterpret the well-known＂Socratic Issues＂in history of thought.By contrasting poet Aristophanes and philosopher Plato in Ancient Greece,Strauss raises a version of＂Two Socrates＂,which are＂Young Socrates＂who assailed justice or piety and lacked of self-knowledge,and＂Grown Socrates＂who defended justice and piety,and provided of Phronesis.Strauss explains the key reason to this＂Change＂is that Plato＇s＂Grown Socrates＂has already realized philosophers must＂descend to the cave＂and undertake a political behaviour due to the understanding of the basic conflict between ＂Knowledge＂and ＂Opinion＂,wisdom and agreement,or philosophy and political society.Meanwhile,the＂Exoteric-Esoteric Double Teaching＂rediscovered by Strauss＇ studies on the philosophers of Middle Islam and Judaism provides an important theoretical tool to support his version of＂Two Socrates＂.It is the very result of comprehensively explaining the general significance of the＂Exoteric Teaching＂of＂Grown Socrates＂that Strauss draws our attention to the＂Priority of Political Philosophy＂：Political philosophy achieves to tame philosophy socially as well as protects the philosophic way of life donated to seeking for wisdom and truth.