# [[👤Eric Voegelin]] - [[libertarian philosopher]]> - [[👤Eric Voegelin]]= - [[📚the Philosopher and the Storyteller - Eric Voegelin and Twentieth-Century Literature by Charles R Embry]] - [[📚Anamnesis by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚Autobiographical Reflections by Eric Voegelin Edited by Ellis Sandoz]] - [[📚Eric Voegelin - Philosopher of History by Eugene Webb]] - [[📚Faith and Political Philosophy - the Correspondence Between Leo Strauss and Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚From Enlightenment to Revolution by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚Politics, Order and History - Essays on the Work of Eric Voegelin by Glenn Hughes]] - [[📚Modernity Without Restraint by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚Israel and Revelation by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚the World of the Polis by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚the Ecumenic Age by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚in Search of Order by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚Plato by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚Revolt Against Modernity - Leo Strauss, Eric Voegelin, and the Search for a Postliberal Order by Ted v McAllister]] - [[📚the Eric Voegelin Reader - Politics, History, Consciousness by Charles R Embry]] - [[📚the New Science of Politics - an Introduction by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚the Voegelinian Revolution - a Biographical Introduction by Ellis Sandoz]] - [[📚Voegelin Recollected - Conversations on a Life by Barry Cooper]] - [[📚Hitler and the Germans by Eric Voegelin]] - [[📚Science, Politics and Gnosticism - Two Essays by Eric Voegelin]] *** Eric Voegelin (1901-1985) was a German-born American political philosopher and historian, renowned for his profound and challenging exploration of political theory, the nature of modernity, and the quest for order in human society. His interdisciplinary work traverses the fields of history, philosophy, political science, and sociology, offering a critical examination of Western civilization's intellectual and spiritual evolution. Voegelin's scholarship is characterized by its depth, breadth, and a unique approach to understanding the complexities of human existence and governance. Voegelin's magnum opus, "The New Science of Politics," published in 1952, stands as a seminal contribution to political theory. In it, Voegelin articulates a comprehensive theory of politics, society, and history, drawing upon a rich tapestry of philosophical and historical insights. He critiques the limitations of modern political science and advocates for a return to classical and Christian understandings of political order, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and existential dimensions in the formation of society[^2][^3]. A central theme in Voegelin's work is his analysis of Gnosticism as a defining characteristic of modernity, which he explores through the concepts of order and disorder in human society. He argues that the quest for a secular utopia, free from the uncertainties of existence, leads to the rise of ideological movements—such as Nazism and Communism—that seek to immanentize the eschaton, or bring about a perfect end-state within history. Voegelin contends that such attempts are inherently flawed and dangerous, as they overlook the complex, transcendent nature of human life and the inherent limitations of human knowledge[^2][^6]. Throughout his career, Voegelin engaged with a wide array of thinkers and intellectual traditions, from ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle to modern figures like Max Weber. His appointment to the chair of Max Weber in political science at Munich's Ludwig Maximilian University in 1958 underscores his stature as a scholar of exceptional insight and breadth, capable of engaging with and advancing Weber's legacy[^3]. Voegelin's work is not easily categorized, as it spans multiple disciplines and engages with a vast range of historical and philosophical issues. His writings challenge readers to reconsider the foundations of political order and the role of spiritual and existential questions in the life of society. Despite the complexity and density of his thought, Voegelin's contributions to political philosophy and his quest for a deeper understanding of order in human affairs continue to inspire and provoke scholars and thinkers across various fields[^2][^5]. In summary, Eric Voegelin's intellectual legacy is marked by his profound engagement with the history of ideas and his relentless pursuit of a deeper understanding of the human condition. His work offers a critical perspective on the challenges of modernity and the enduring quest for order and meaning in a complex and changing world. [^1]: https://www.amazon.com/New-Science-Politics-Introduction-Foundation/dp/0226861147 [^2]: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/N/bo3622811.html [^3]: https://voegelinview.com/the-question-of-order-eric-voegelins-introduction-to-a-new-sociology/ [^4]: https://www.everand.com/book/450134860/The-New-Science-of-Politics-An-Introduction [^5]: https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/02/eric-voegelin-a-primer.html [^6]: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/924394.The_New_Science_of_Politics [^7]: https://www.amazon.com/New-Science-Politics-Introduction/dp/B00E1CXXJS [^8]: https://valsec.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-new-science-of-politics-eric-voegelin/1101613782