0054 Allow me to cut to the chase.  The reason why Millerman writes this chapter is simple.  He wants to defend the serious study of Dugin before admirers of the political philosopher Leo Strauss.

Why would Millerman want to do that?

When Millerman declares the topic of his doctoral thesis at the University of Toronto, four members of his dissertation committee resign.  Two are Straussians.  The actions of these two are particularly poignant, since Millerman self-identifies as a maven of Strauss.

0055 Maven?

Yes, the term fits.  This chapter, number six in the collection of essays under one title, Inside Putin’s Brain: The Political Philosophy of Alexander Dugin, (available at Amazon and other hardcover book venues) plays Straussian themes.  The essay is exoteric.  The essay is esoteric.  There is a message in the middle.  Plus, that message comes from Dugin himself.

Of course, I do not say this lightly.  I have my own philosophical axe to grind, so to speak.  Yet, the clever Millerman has already prepared his text, so to speak.  The essay cleaves into three parts.  The introduction discusses two philosophical dances, one between Heidegger and Strauss and the other between Heidegger and Dugin.  The middle translates an excerpt from Alexander Dugin’s Book (2011) Martin Heidegger and the Possibility of Russian Philosophy.  The end recapitulates the introduction.

I cannot axe for more.

0056 Millerman’s text is an example of the semitic (as opposed to the greek) textual style (as discussed in An Instructor’s Guide to An Archaeology of the Fall).  The pattern is A:B:A’.

The semitic textual style asks the reader to recognize a possibility.

0057 What is the possibility that Millerman wants us to recognize?

Dugin and Strauss have a lot in common.  Both dance with the one Heidegger.  Both address a key question, articulated by ancient Greek philosophers, that defines classical political philosophy.

What is the best political order?