Xenophon’s "Anabasis"
At the end of his life Leo Strauss (1899-1973) started to devote additional attention to his interpretation of philosophy of Socrates’ pupil - Xenophon of Athens. During 1969-70 in St. John’s College he made a lecturing course on Xenophon’s «Oeconomicus» and «Memorabilia». After it he publishes two of his last intravital books: «Xenophon’s Socratic Discourse. An Interpretation of the “Oeconomicus”» (1970) - in which he interprets the «Oeconomicus» and «Xenophon’s Socrates» (1972) - in which he interprets the «Memorabilia», «Apology», and «Symposium». Yet, Strauss did not stop there. He wants to complete his scholarly work on Xenophon’s philosophy and thus turns to the «Anabasis», writing an article about the book. Unfortunately, he was not able to publish it. The article comes out after his death, in 1975 through the efforts of the philosopher’s circle. That article is in front of you. In Strauss’ customary manner it looks like a consecutive short summary of Xenophon’s «Anabasis» sprinkled here and there with some valuable remarks and findings. In fact, this enigmatic stile of reasoning gives one keys to the understanding of Xenophon’s philosophy, which allow one to see behind a «historical novel» a truly philosophical work that raises pivotal for the classical political philosophy questions. Among them the problem of human rule, human virtue, and divine meddling.