Boethius
Fortune gives and takes at random, so true happiness lies only in what cannot be lost – the good itself, which is God.
Placement
Translated Aristotle’s logical writings into Latin and, in prison, wrote “The Consolation of Philosophy.”
Key ideas
- Wheel of Fortune
- Problem of universals
Influence
Influenced by 4
Plato
influenced by ✓
Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy (c. 524) summarises Plato’s Timaeus in the hymn ‘O qui perpetua’ and takes up recollection and the ascent to the Good. Boethius, Consolatio philosophiae III m. 9, III m. 11; SEP “Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius”
Plato › 428–348 BCE
Aristotle
influenced by ✓
Boethius planned to translate all of Aristotle, to comment on him and show his agreement with Plato; his logical translations became the basis of early medieval logic. Boethius, In Aristotelis Peri hermeneias, editio secunda II, prologue; SEP “Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius”
Aristotle › 384–322 BCE
Porphyry
influenced by ✓
Boethius translated Porphyry’s Isagoge and wrote two commentaries on it, turning its unanswered questions about genera and species into the medieval problem of universals. Boethius, In Isagogen Porphyrii commenta (editio prima, editio secunda); SEP “The Medieval Problem of Universals”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Porphyry › c. 234–305
Augustine
influenced by ✓
In the preface to his tractate On the Trinity Boethius asked readers to judge whether seeds of argument from Augustine’s writings had borne fruit in his own. Boethius, De Trinitate, preface; SEP “Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Augustine › 354–430
Influenced 4
Anselm of Canterbury
influenced
Anselm’s dialectic, as in De grammatico, works with the Aristotelian logic of the Categories and On Interpretation, known to him through Boethius’ translations and commentaries. Anselm, De grammatico; J. Marenbon, Early Medieval Philosophy (1983); SEP “Saint Anselm”
Evidence: AI draft
Anselm of Canterbury › 1033–1109
Peter Abelard
influenced
Abelard wrote his logic largely as glosses on Boethius’ translations and commentaries and took the problem of universals from Boethius’ commentary on Porphyry. Abelard, Logica ‘Ingredientibus’; Boethius, In Isagogen Porphyrii, editio secunda; SEP “Peter Abelard”
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Peter Abelard › 1079–1142
Thomas Aquinas
influenced ✓
Aquinas commented on Boethius’ On the Trinity and De hebdomadibus and adopted his definitions of person and of eternity (Summa theologiae I q. 29, q. 10). Thomas Aquinas, Super Boetium De Trinitate; Expositio libri De hebdomadibus; Summa theologiae I q. 10 a. 1, q. 29 a. 1; SEP “Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Thomas Aquinas › c. 1225–1274
Christine de Pizan
influenced
Christine modelled the third part of L’Avision Christine (1405) on Boethius’ Consolation, consoling herself in dialogue with Lady Philosophy. Christine de Pizan, L’Avision Christine (1405), part III; Boethius, Consolatio philosophiae
Evidence: AI draft
Christine de Pizan › c. 1364–1430
Criticism
Criticized by 1
Lorenzo Valla
criticised by
Valla rejected Boethius’ solution to divine foreknowledge and free will through God’s eternal present, offering his own analogies instead (De libero arbitrio, c. 1439). L. Valla, De libero arbitrio (c. 1439); SEP “Lorenzo Valla”
Evidence: AI draft
Lorenzo Valla › c. 1407–1457
Works
In prison, Philosophy appears as a woman and offers consolation about Fortune and Providence.
Position
Boethius set out to translate all of Plato and Aristotle into Latin and to show that they agreed; he completed only parts of Aristotle’s logic, which became the basis of early medieval learning. In The Consolation of Philosophy, Lady Philosophy visits the condemned man and leads him from lamenting the fickle wheel of Fortune to the insight that true happiness lies in the highest good, which is God. He also argues that divine foreknowledge does not destroy human freedom, because God sees all of time in an eternal present. The book was one of the most widely read works of the Middle Ages.
Life & context
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius came from a leading Roman senatorial family and served the Ostrogothic king Theodoric, rising to the high office of master of offices. Accused of treason and of conspiring with Byzantium, he was imprisoned at Pavia and executed around 524. In prison he wrote The Consolation of Philosophy.
Further main works
- Commentaries on Porphyry’s Isagoge and Aristotle’s logic (c. 505–520)
- Theological Tractates (c. 512–522)
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