Boethius

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius, commonly called Boethius (c. 477 – 524), was a philosopher who also happened to attain the highest office, that of Consul, under Theodoric, Emperor of the Western Empire. Boethius was an instantiation, then, of that rare combination of philosophical insight and political power that was seen as the only route to a truly just society in accordance with Socrates' reasoning in The Republic.

Theodoric later imprisoned and executed him in 524 on charges of conspiracy. Boethius composed his incredibly influential work, Consolation of Philosophy, while in prison and awaiting execution. Boethius' work is a philosophical treatise on fortune, death, and the Stoic goal of apatheia. The work became extremely influential during the Middle Ages. In addition, as the author of numerous handbooks and translator of Plato and Aristotle, he became the main intermediary between Classical antiquity and following centuries. Notably, Boethius invented the term “Quadrivium” (four-way path) for study of Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy), to be studied after the “Trivium” (Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic).

As a result of the immense influence of his major work, and its role in preserving classical learning during the Middle Ages, Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy is on my list of 101 Greatest Books of the Western Canon.

Course Materials

Reflections on the Great Books

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