Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the tragic life and enduring intellect of Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, the 6th-century statesman and philosopher often described as the "Last of the Romans". A bridge between the ancient classical world and the Middle Ages, Boethius rose to the pinnacle of power under the Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great, only to lose everything to the turning "Wheel of Fortune" he famously described.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Rise: Boethius’s rapid ascent to the position of magister officiorum (head of government) and the honor of seeing his two sons appointed consuls.

• The Intellectual Mission: His ambitious life goal to translate the complete works of Plato and Aristotle from Greek into Latin, a project that helped preserve ancient logic for the medieval world.

• The Betrayal: How his attempts to fight court corruption and defend the Senate led to accusations of treason, imprisonment, and a brutal execution in 524 AD.

• The Masterpiece: The creation of The Consolation of Philosophy—written while he awaited death in prison—in which he engages in a dialogue with the personification of Philosophy regarding fate, providence, and the nature of good.

• The Legacy: His lasting influence as the "schoolmaster of medieval Europe," his contributions to music theory and arithmetic, and his veneration as a Christian martyr.