VITTORIO POSSENTI

La filosofia politica del '900 (Germania e USA)

N. 167

Summary -  General condition of political philosophy in twentieth century is scrutinized, mainly in Usa and Germany. The method selected in the paper does not involve analysis of series of authors, but of general paradigms or models, such as nature and scope of political philosophy, its relation with the philosophy of history, its confrontation with Marxism, the connection between ethics and politics, and so on. The research identifies in the early fifties and in the works by H. Arendt, J. Maritain, Y.R. Simon, L Strauss, E. Voegelin an important achievement of XX century political philosophy. While the necessity is mostly felt of opposing the crisis raised by totalitarianism, scientism and ideologies, rather different are the relevant answers. They are dependent on the ability of political science to substitute plain opinions with knowledge, and to define the primary political good. This paper supports the idea that American political thought is perhaps more relevant in respect of the German one, for the former has kept up relations with natural right doctrine, a caution toward the power of the State, and an attitude to discuss together economics and politics.