An analysis of the classical Greek model and an excursion through the history of philosophy explain how the Greek quest can be pursued in a manner consistent with contemporary knowledge. In the course of his journey, Kaplan shows how Strauss fatally misconceived the role of 17th-century philosophy and its relationship to contemporary thought.

This book attempts to show why, despite the fundamental flaws in the classical Greek accounts of truth and knowledge, its quest for rational knowledge remains legitimate and vital to the concepts of character and identity. Writers explored include: Aristotle, Hegel, Leo Strauss, and others.