In one of his last books, Socrates and Aristophanes, LeoStrauss's examines the confrontation between Socrates and Aristophanesin Aristophanes' comedies. Looking at eleven plays, Strauss shows thatthis confrontation is essentially one between poetry and philosophy, andthat poetry emerges as an autonomous wisdom capable of rivalingphilosophy."Strauss gives us an impressive addition to his life's work—therecovery of the Great Tradition in political philosophy. The problem thebook proposes centers formally upon Socrates. As is typical of Strauss,he raises profound issues with great courage. . . . [He addresses] aproblem that has been inherent in Western life ever since [Socrates']the tension between reason and religion. . . . Thus, we cometo Aristophanes, the great comic poet, and his attack on Socrates in theplay The Clouds. . . [Strauss] translates it into the basicproblem of the relation between poetry and philosophy, and resolves thisby an analysis of the function of comedy in the life of the city." —Stanley Parry, National Review