The Long ConversationA timeline of world philosophy

Philosopher

Boethius

c. 476 – c. 526 CE

Also known as Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius

Roman statesman who handed Aristotle's logic to the Latin Middle Ages, and wrote The Consolation of Philosophy in prison while awaiting execution.

Illuminated initial showing a bearded teacher in a lilac robe reading from a lectern to seated students
Boethius teaching his students, from a manuscript of The Consolation of Philosophy made in 1385, probably in Italy. University of Glasgow Library.University of Glasgow Library · Public domain · See the original

Nothing is wretched, but thinking makes it so, and conversely every lot is happy if borne with equanimity.

The Consolation of Philosophy, book 2, prose 4, translated by H. R. James

Boethius was born into the Roman aristocracy in about 475–7, around the time the last western Roman emperor was deposed, and lived most of his life under the Ostrogothic king Theoderic. Taught Greek thoroughly, he spent most of his life in learned leisure, planning to translate and comment on all of Plato and Aristotle. He rose to be Theoderic’s Master of Offices, among the highest posts in the government, but made enemies at court, was accused of treason and magic, and was executed, probably in 526.

In prison he wrote The Consolation of Philosophy, a dialogue in prose and verse between himself and Lady Philosophy. With Augustine and Aristotle, he became one of the fundamental philosophical authors of the Latin Middle Ages, and his translations and commentaries remained the standard route to Aristotle’s logic until the twelfth century.

Key ideas

True happiness is not fortune’s gift
Riches, status, power and pleasure are goods of fortune of very limited value. True happiness rests on virtue, wisdom and sufficiency, and ultimately on the highest good itself, so losing fortune’s gifts need not cut us off from it.
Foreknowledge and free will
If God infallibly foresees every choice, it seems no choice can be free. Philosophy answers that God, being eternal, knows all things as we know what is present. What he knows is necessary only conditionally, which places no constraint on our freedom.
A bridge for logic
Boethius translated Aristotle’s logical works into Latin, commented on them, and wrote textbooks on the syllogism and on topical argument. His translations remained standard throughout the Middle Ages.
Logic in theology
In his theological treatises Boethius used logical analysis to tackle Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, setting a pattern for medieval philosophical theology.
Tradition
Western
Region
Rome and Ravenna, Ostrogothic Italy

Influences

Influenced by

Boethiusc. 476 – c. 526 CE

Influenced

Influenced by

Boethiusc. 476 – c. 526 CE

Influenced

Where these links come from
  • Boethius drew on Aristotle. Source: John Marenbon, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Boethius drew on Proclus. Source: Christoph Helmig and Carlos Steel, Proclus, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • John Scottus Eriugena drew on Boethius. Source: Dermot Moran and Adrian Guiu, John Scottus Eriugena, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Peter Abelard drew on and argued against Boethius. Source: Peter King and Andrew Arlig, Peter Abelard, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Thomas Aquinas drew on Boethius. Source: Robert Pasnau, Thomas Aquinas, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Key works

  • The Consolation of Philosophy (De consolatione philosophiae)
  • Theological Treatises (Opuscula sacra)

Sources

  1. John Marenbon, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  2. Christoph Helmig and Carlos Steel, Proclus, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy