Who was Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Boethius

Died At Age: 47

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Elpis, Rusticiana

father: Flavius Manlius Boetius

Born Country: Italy

Historians Philosophers

Died on: October 23, 524

place of death: Pavia, Italy

Cause of Death: Execution

City: Rome, Italy

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1

What were Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius's major contributions to philosophy?

Boethius is best known for his work "The Consolation of Philosophy," a philosophical treatise that explores the nature of happiness, fate, and the relationship between free will and determinism.
2

What was the significance of Boethius's concept of the "wheel of fortune?"

Boethius's idea of the "wheel of fortune" symbolizes the unpredictable nature of life and the transient nature of earthly success and happiness, emphasizing the importance of inner strength and virtue over external circumstances.
3

How did Boethius influence medieval scholastic philosophy?

Boethius's translations of ancient Greek philosophical works into Latin, along with his original writings, played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting classical philosophical thought to the Middle Ages, shaping the development of scholasticism.
4

What is the philosophical framework behind Boethius's argument for the existence of God?

Boethius's argument for the existence of God is grounded in the idea of divine providence, which asserts that God's perfect knowledge and goodness ensure the ultimate harmony and order of the universe, despite the presence of evil and suffering.
5

How did Boethius's work influence later thinkers, such as Thomas Aquinas?

Boethius's ideas on the relationship between faith and reason, the nature of happiness, and the reconciliation of human will with divine providence had a profound impact on later Christian philosophers like Thomas Aquinas, who incorporated Boethian concepts into their own theological and philosophical frameworks.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius around 480 AD, in Rome, Kingdom of Odoacer into the ancient Roman family of the Anicii which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls. His father Manlius Boethius was appointed consul in 487 AD.

His father died when Boethius was young. He was then adopted and raised by Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus, an aristocrat known to his father. He was given a good education by his foster father who also instilled in him a deep love for literature and philosophy.

Little is known of his formal education. Some scholars believe that Boethius was educated in the East as he was fluent in Greek, a rare skill at the time in the Western Empire. The French scholar Pierre Courcelle was of the view that Boethius studied at Alexandria with the Neo-Platonist philosopher Ammonius Hermiae. However, the claims have not been proven.

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Italian Intellectuals & Academics

Career

Boethius entered the service of Theodoric the Great at a young age. He had become a senator by the time he was 25. One of the earliest tasks he undertook for the king was to investigate allegations that the paymaster of Theodoric's bodyguards had debased the coins of their pay.

According to documented proofs, Boethius produced a waterclock which king Theodoric gave to king Gundobad of the Burgunds. He also recruited a lyre-player to perform for king Clovis of the Franks.

He found considerable success in his public service and held several important positions during Theodoric's reign. He was an intellectual with interests in scholarly pursuits and it was his dream to translate into Latin the complete works of Aristotle with commentary and all the works of Plato.

He started working on the translations during the 500s, and began translating Porphyry's 'Eisagogē', a 3rd-century Greek introduction to Aristotle's logic, and elaborated it in a double commentary.

In 510 AD, he became the consul, and during his consulship he translated the 'Katēgoriai', and also translated and wrote two commentaries on the second of Aristotle's six treatises, the 'Peri hermeneias'. He also wrote two short works on the syllogism.

He continued to enjoy much power and prestige in his public career and was appointed to the office of magister officiorum, one of the most senior administrative officials in the late Roman Empire, in 522 AD. By this time two of his sons had also been appointed co-consuls.

During this time, Boethius was working on revitalizing the relationship between the Roman See and the Constantinopalian See. Both were parts of the same Church but disagreements had crept up between them. His attempts to reconcile the disagreeing parties led to a series of events that culminated in his losing the royal favor.

He fell from power in 523 AD, and the king Theodoric the Great had him arrested and sentenced to death. During his imprisonment while awaiting execution, he wrote the treatise 'Consolation of Philosophy' which went on to become his best known work and also one of the seminal works of the Middle Ages.

Major Works

He translated several of Aristotle's works, and his completed translations of Aristotle's works on logic were the only significant portions of Aristotle available in Latin Christendom from the sixth century until the 12th century. Some of his translations, however, were mixed with his own commentary.

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Boethius's best known work is the 'Consolation of Philosophy' which he wrote during his imprisonment as he awaited his execution. The work is presented in the form of an imaginary dialogue between himself and philosophy, with philosophy personified as a woman.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married his foster father Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus' daughter, Rusticiana. Their children included two boys, Symmachus and Boethius, who followed in their father's tradition and became consuls on growing up.

He was arrested by the king Theodoric the Great and sentenced to death on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the king. Boethius was executed in 524 AD, after a year of imprisonment.

Boethius was a devoted Christian and is recognized as a martyr for the Catholic faith by the Roman Martyrology. He was declared a saint by the Sacred Congregation of Rites in 1883.

Facts About Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius

Boethius is known for his contributions to philosophy and mathematics, but he also had a passion for music and composed several hymns and songs.

Despite his scholarly pursuits, Boethius was also a skilled diplomat and served as a consul in the Ostrogothic Kingdom.

Boethius was known for his love of books and was instrumental in preserving and translating many ancient Greek texts into Latin.

In addition to his intellectual pursuits, Boethius was a devoted family man and took great pride in his wife and children.

Boethius had a deep sense of justice and fairness, which is evident in his philosophical works that explore the nature of good and evil.

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius Biography

You wanted to know

What were Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius's major contributions to philosophy?

What was the significance of Boethius's concept of the "wheel of fortune?"

How did Boethius influence medieval scholastic philosophy?

What is the philosophical framework behind Boethius's argument for the existence of God?

How did Boethius's work influence later thinkers, such as Thomas Aquinas?