The Tragedy and Comedy of Political Life in the Thought of George Santayana

The philosopher George Santayana was keenly aware of literature and particularly of tragedy and comedy. Taking his cue from the Platonic notion of the tragedy and comedy of life, he was able to look at politics from a detached point of view beyond tragedy and comedy. This detachment, however, is not without its problems, as it would seem to lead to a low estimation of human life in light of eternity. But precisely by maintaining his detachment from current politics, Santayana's contemplative stance offers a powerful antidote, in thought, to all forms of modern, i.e. ideological, politics, including the politics of Realpolitik. Santayana's awareness of the tragedy and comedy of political life shows his awareness of the limits of politics.