Politics and Transcendence

“The trust in the Cosmos and its depth is the source of the premises . . . that we accept as the context of meaning for our concrete engagement in the search of truth. The search for truth makes sense only under the assumption that the truth brought up from the depth of his psyche by man, though it is not the ultimate truth of reality, is representative of the truth in the divine depth of the Cosmos. Behind every equivalent symbol in the historical field stands the man who has engendered it in the course of his search as representative of a truth that is more than equivalent. The search that renders no more than equivalent truth rests ultimately on the faith that, by engaging in it, man participates representatively in the divine drama of truth becoming luminous.” –Eric Voegelin

All Stanford students are invited to join Zephyr for this series of dinner seminars on Politics and Transcendence led by Professor Juan Miguel Matheus (Stanford Constitutional Law Center and National Assembly of Venezuela). This seminar focuses on Plato, Leo Strauss, and Eric Voegelin on the metaphysical and theological foundations of politics. Although politics is a temporal and earthly reality with its own sphere of autonomy, it is still related to the highest goods of human life. There are three concepts that allow us to appreciate politics in its most transcendent sense: truth, human nature, and the good. These are aspects of human existence that make it possible to respond to the great problems threatening contemporary democracy.

Readings

• Plato, Apology of Socrates

• Strauss, “What is Political Philosophy?,” What is Political Philosophy? And Other Studies, University of Chicago Press, 1959

• Strauss, Natural Right and History, University of Chicago Press, 1953, introduction

• Voegelin, “Reason: The Classic Experience,” Anamnesis, trans. and ed. Gerhart Niemeyer, University of Notre Dame Press, 1978

• Voegelin, The New Science of Politics, University of Chicago Press, 1951, introduction

Eligibility

All Stanford students are encouraged to attend this event. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP so that Zephyr can plan accordingly.

Photo credit: O Palsson (licensed under CC by 2.0)