I am finding it very odd that the whole Danish cartoon business is coming to a head at the exact moment I happen to be reading Laurence Lampert's "Nietzsche & Leo Strauss." What is the connection? Well, a prominent theme in the book is Strauss' contention that if you, as a philosopher, want to espouse something which would be viewed as impious by the orthodoxy of the day, you shouldn't come right out and say it. It is better, claims Strauss, to speak and write esoterically in such a way that you will be understood only by a few who might be open to what you have to say. This approach allows the philosopher to avoid the fate of Socrates, who was impolitic in his pursuit of truth, ran afoul of the ruling orthodoxy, and paid for it with his life. Eventually, teaches Strauss, the philosopher (or maybe a successive generation of students of the philosopher) can gradually change the orthodoxy to allow a safe space for philosophy to exist and prosper.
It is most ironic that Strauss claims to have learned this "method" largely from the work of the Islamic philosopher Al Farabi. It is ironic because Al Farabi's attempt to alter the orthodoxy of Islam in ANY way conducive for philosophy can only be viewed as a utter failure. Islamic orthodoxy seems to be as medieval as it ever has been. Indeed, there doesn't seem to be a level of barbarism the orthodoxy can descend to that the greatest mass of Muslims won't embrace or acquiesce to. As an historical "movement," there can be fewer things LESS effectual than the ideas of Al Farabi in the Islamic world. With this as a backdrop Strauss' adoption of the "technique" seems more an act of desperation than anything else.
Also, it isn't as if open defiance of ruling orthodoxies hasn't worked. Algernon Sidney may have lost his head, but it was his ideas that eventually won the day, not Filmer's. Locke may have had to flee the country during his lifetime, but we still read him 300+ years later. Who reads Hooker but a specialist?
We have already fought our battles so we don't have to live with the dehumanizing orthodoxies Islamic societies wish to impose in their own countries. That strikes me as something we would want to shout from the rooftops not whisper in the shadows. If we start whispering about the right of free human expression the shadows will do nothing but increase.
