Plato’s Statesman: Why True Rule Is Not Animal Care
Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash.
In Plato’s Statesman, the distinction between the herdsman and the kingly art is subtle but crucial. Both are metaphors for rule, but Plato draws a line between them to clarify what true statesmanship actually is.
1. The Herdsman Analogy (Rejected)
Early in the dialogue, the Stranger suggests comparing the statesman to a herdsman—someone who cares for a flock (i.e., the citizens), overseeing their wellbeing. This analogy is tempting because it implies a benevolent, knowledgeable ruler who tends to the needs of passive subjects.
But this analogy is eventually rejected, and here’s why:
A herdsman rules over beasts, not rational beings.
The herdsman’s flock is homogeneous and lacks internal conflict, whereas a human society is diverse and full of disagreement.
Herds are passive recipients of care. Citizens, by contrast, have reason, agency, and justice as part of their nature.
So, the herdsman metaphor is too simplistic and authoritarian to capture the complexity of real political leadership.
2. The Kingly Art (Statesmanship)
The true king, according to Plato, is not just someone who “looks after” people like animals, but someone who practices the science or art of statesmanship (basilikê technê):
It’s a knowledge-based craft (technê) that aims at the good of the whole community.
It involves weaving together the different natures and roles in society—like the metaphor of weaving warp and weft.
The kingly art doesn’t just command, it also judges, deliberates, and harmonizes.
Unlike the herdsman, the true statesman doesn’t treat people as docile creatures, but as rational partners in the pursuit of the just life. His role is to unite opposites, mediate between classes, temper passions, and maintain balance in the soul of the city.
Summary
In Plato’s Statesman, the dialogue explores what makes a true ruler, and early on, the Stranger proposes an analogy: perhaps the statesman is like a herdsman, caring for the people as a shepherd cares for his flock. At first glance, this seems plausible—the herdsman watches over, protects, and ensures the wellbeing of his animals. But Plato ultimately rejects this comparison. The reason is that the herdsman deals with irrational creatures, guiding them without their input or consent. His flock is homogeneous, passive, and lacks the complexity of human society. Citizens, on the other hand, are rational beings capable of moral and political deliberation. They are not mere sheep to be tended, but participants in a shared pursuit of the good.
Instead of the herdsman, Plato introduces the idea of the true statesman as someone who practices the kingly art, a precise and noble form of knowledge. The statesman is not just a benevolent caretaker but a kind of craftsman or weaver—one who brings together the diverse elements of society into harmony. Like a weaver who interlaces different threads into a single fabric, the statesman unites people of different temperaments, roles, and virtues, balancing opposites to create a just and ordered city. This kingly art is defined not by domination or control but by wisdom, justice, and the ability to deliberate well for the good of the whole. In this way, the Statesman elevates the ruler from a mere manager of bodies to a harmonizer of souls.
