#29 Grant Havers on Leo Strauss, Conservatism, and Modern Political Issues

This episode goes deep into the philosophy of Leo Strauss and the modern Conservative movement by looking at Professor Haver's book on Strauss and Ango-American democracy.

I got too excited with the discussion and stopped paying attention to the recording quality. It's less than I would have hoped, but the content Grant shares is excellent.

I offer a longer summary than usual. Thanks for checking it out!

 

AI summary:

In this episode, we discuss with Grant Havers, Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Trinity Western University, his book 'Leo Strauss and Anglo-American Democracy: A Conservative Critique.' We dive into several key topics, including the concept of universals within liberal political philosophy, the idea of the open society and its potential threats to democracy, and the principle of Fusionism blending tradition with free market thinking. The conversation also covers the intricate relationship between conservatism and capitalism, the role of Christianity in political philosophy, and future technological impacts like AI and transhumanism. Despite technical issues with the recording, this engaging discussion is valuable for those interested in political philosophy and Canadian conservatism. 00:00 Introduction to the Episode 00:54 Key Discussion Points 05:39 Introducing Grant Havers 05:59 Diving into Leo Strauss 11:44 Universals and Historical Context 20:34 Neoconservatism and the Managerial State 25:57 Strauss's Concerns on Open Society 31:30 Conservatism and Anti-Communism: A Complex Relationship 32:46 Misconceptions About Conservatism 34:55 Fusionism in Conservative Thought 37:02 The Tension Between Conservatism and Capitalism 42:55 Strauss's Views on Reason and Revelation 50:20 Hegelian Philosophy and Historical Necessity 57:33 Technological Change and Its Implications 01:00:13 Closing Thoughts and Future Discussions