Statesman

Statesman is one of Plato's later political works a companion piece to Sophist. Less dramatic and more dogmatic than his earlier dialogues Socrates is here reduced to a minor character while most of the conversation is carried on by a mysterious stranger from Elea. The purpose of the dialogue is partly to define a statesman but also to demonstrate the use of the procedure of division in reaching a definition. By dividing a subject up into successive limbs like the limbs of a tree the dialogue provides a model for how to conduct a philosophical enquiry.Along with the better-known Republic and Laws Statesman is essential to a complete understanding of Plato's evolving political thought.