For Nietzsche the herd is sheep. The Nobleman, are eagles, and from this he describes that which he is not.(Strong, free, etc. Nietzsche was plagued with health and mental issues. The last 10 years of his life, his mind had become that of a child).
The Nobleman is supposed to be a beast, a force of freedom, the strongest, the best. Nietzsche says that the herd is like the common man, the eagle the nobleman. What does the eagle care about the sheep’s bleating and crying, just as the nobleman does not care about the bleating and whining of the common man and that which men calls morals.
Using this logic, the freeman is a predator, taking what he wants at will, with his freedom. But Nietzsche only showed the duality of his view. He did not allow for some basic facts about the herd, especially if the herd is not a herd of sheep, another player if you will at this pen like struggle. What of the Stag, the Mustang, the Bull Elk, and the Wolf. Those things which are Alpha in Nature, yet of the same group. They do not have the freedom of the predator, but they do have the freedom of a leader that directs the herd. They realize their strength to fight off predators does not come from personal greed for individual freedom; they find their strength in leading the group, and ensuring it prospers. The Stag overlooks, defends, directs the herd, not only for the herd’s survival, but also the herd helps to protect him. Many eyes and ears looking and listening together, many noses tasting the air. The Stag and his off spring are the Alphas, but the herd protects him, it does not just stand idly by. The same is true of the Stag which protects the herd. The team working together to have more freedom, then Nietzsche’s Eagles, who generally work alone, or in pairs. They do not have the freedom of the herd who watch over each other; in contrast they must remove themselves to isolated and lofty places so that other free predators cannot reach them.
Thus for me, the Leader of the Herd, has more freedom then the predator of the herd. The leader can go with the herd where he wishes. He can rest in the herd. He can leave or lead the herd to where ever he wishes. The collection of individuals in the herd, with their duplication of senses and alerts protects the leader, and more importantly his off-spring.
So while Nietzsche’s eagles have freedom, they must live alone and in secret nests far away from the herd. They have no real protection for their young while they are hunting, and must remain with the young when not hunting. Their freedom is very limited. In contrast; the Stag’s offspring is protected by the herd. The young are highly protected by the many, and the Stag himself. The Stag goes where he wishes, leading the rest, who enjoy the greatest treasure of all…leisure time for its developing young, in the center of the herd. The Stag has his pick of the herd, he chooses its members, and banishes those who are seen as unfit for the herd, or who challenge his right to be leader. He leads the herd, yet is one of the herd, he loves the herd, but disciplines the herd, he is the strongest, brightest, and noblest member of the herd, yet the heard does not control him. Thus for me the Stag, herd leader, has more freedom then the predator Eagle of Nietzsche.