504: Discussion Board - Defining Statesmanship

504: Discussion Board 1
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For one to be a statesman, they have to possess more than skills and apply their character. This means that they have to call forth their moral standings with reference to developing a good society. Ideally they must also see the good and potential in others and strive to make them even greater. This means that statesmanship relates to having the passion and gusto to manage state affairs, with a selfless appeal. This is not to mean that for one to practice statesmanship they have to be perfect it just means that in their flaws they have the ability, character, morals and determination to rise above their needs and interests and bring on more good to the society despite the sacrifice.
Newell, brings out this aspect; “What we need are not statesmen but acts of statesmanship, where leaders rise above more selfish interests to accomplish something positive for our future.” However according to Leo and Joseph, “Statesmanship is understood as a king of knowledge or art, or because abstraction is made from that which distinguishes the political from the arts.”
A leader on the other had mainly relies on their skills in managing state affairs. This means that requirements are not as high, as these are people that have risen to their positions relative to the skills they can offer. According to Jay, “In the Statesman, Plato admitted the necessity of revision. He revealed that the available stock of human intelligence on earthis insufficient for so divine a prospect and that the humanly best solution must be a government of laws that involves human beings in both their formulation and compliance.”  Kahlib however feels that, “Leadership is often mistakenly related solely to one’s position in an organization. But leadership can occur anytime someone is making a positive impact in one’s church, job, etc.”
Carson gives the Christian perspective saying, “One might respond to the preceding argumen...