Abstract

The main purpose of this essay is to introduce to the reader a Greek philosopher who set himself the task of reconstructing dominant currents of occidental thought from the point of view of their power relations. Kondylis interprets power as a subjectively as well as objectively effective phenomenon, which, anthropologically understood, can be traced back to an instinct for self-preservation closely connected with the human spirit-nature. It is no coincidence that he dealt with the work of Machiavelli early on and placed him – considering the genealogy of power-theories – alongside Thucydides and Max Weber.