Abstract

Animals and animal metaphors in Plato’s political anthropology. Many references to animals in Plato’s political philosophy are conceptually grounded in his anthropology. This is justified by the recognition that “man also belongs to the animals” (Gorg. 516b). At the same time, the categorization of man within the animal world is complemented by a reference to man’s kinship with the divine, manifested in the soul. As I aim to demonstrate, this dual nature of man - encompassing the potential to descend into the animal realm as well as ascend to the divine - underlies central Platonic references to animals in the Republic, the Statesman, and the Laws. Particularly relevant here is the image of the ruler who, through insight and virtue, has assimilated to the divine and can therefore be regarded as the legitimate guardian of the human herd. Furthermore, this article argues that in the Laws, state law is presented as the embodiment of the divine will, and its fulfilment as the means of achieving homoiôsis theô for nearly all citizens.