Academic Quote by Leo Strauss
“Nothing ought to be said or done which could create the impression that unbiased reconsideration of the most elementary premises of philosophy is a merely academic or historical affair.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Natural Right and History, Leo Strauss, 1953
Philosophical inquiry should not be dismissed as merely academic; it must remain open to reexamining basic premises.
In simple terms: Philosophy must stay open to questioning fundamentals.
Key Takeaway
Keep questioning core assumptions.
Themes
philosophy
critical thinking
intellectual humility
Mood
analytical
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- public discourse
- policy formation
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
foundational analysis
historical perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- Why is revisiting basic premises important?
- What risks arise from ignoring foundational critique?
A Different Perspective
Some may view constant questioning as destabilizing.
![“Philosophy... is indeed outrageous, inherently so. It seeks to disquiet the foundations of our lives and to offer us in recompense nothing better than itself- and this on the basis of no expert knowledge, of nothing closed to the ordinary human being, once... [one] lets himself or herself be…” quote by Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/42e/stanley-cavell-33068_ambition_philosophy-is-indeed-outrageous-inherent_1061620.jpg)
![“The emancipation of the scholars and scientists from philosophy is according to [Nietzsche] only a part of the democratic movement, i.e. of the emancipation of the low from subordination to the high. ... The plebeian character of the contemporary scholar or scientist is due to the fact that he has…” quote by Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/76a/leo-strauss-12446_character_the-emancipation-of-the-scholars-and-sci_389563.jpg)
