Plato's Influence on St. Boethius with Dr. Thomas Ward

In this episode of the Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Thomas Ward from Baylor University about Plato's influence on St. Boethius.

The conversation begins with an exploration of Boethius's life, particularly his role as a Roman statesman and philosopher during a tumultuous time in history. Dr. Ward highlights St. Boethius's seminal work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," written while he awaited execution, and discusses its impact on medieval thought and the liberal arts tradition. The dialogue emphasizes St. Boethius's unique position as a bridge between Roman and medieval philosophy, often referred to as the last of the Romans and the first of the medievals.

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As the conversation unfolds, the discussion shifts to the Platonic influences on St. Boethius's writings. Dr. Ward explains how Boethius synthesized Platonic and Aristotelian thought, particularly in his understanding of the good and the nature of happiness. The episode delves into the themes of evil as privation, the nature of true happiness, and the philosophical journey from despair to enlightenment that St. Boethius undergoes in his work.

The dialogue is rich with references to other philosophical texts, including the works of Plato, and draws parallels between Boethius's ideas and those found in the writings of later thinkers like Dante and Aquinas. Overall, the episode serves as a compelling introduction to Boethius's thought and its enduring relevance in the study of philosophy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast

02:24 Exploring Boethius and His Influence

04:16 Who Was Boethius?

07:49 Boethius: The Last Roman and First Scholastic

10:18 The Liberal Arts and Boethius' Legacy

11:36 Teaching Boethius: A Personal Journey

14:07 Plato's Influence on Boethius

18:50 The Consolation of Philosophy: Setting the Stage

24:31 Lady Philosophy: Deconstruction and Reconstruction

29:58 The Quest for Self-Knowledge

30:51 Fortune and Its Dual Nature

31:53 The Good: Bridging Plato and Christianity

36:19 Happiness and the Divine Connection

40:00 The Paradox of Good and Evil

45:11 The Poetic and Philosophical Fusion

48:44 Evil as Privation: A Platonic Insight

52:08 Boethius: A Synthesis of Philosophical Traditions

Takeaways

1. Boethius is often called the last of the Romans and the first of the Medievals.
2. His work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," was written while he awaited execution.
3. Boethius synthesized Platonic and Aristotelian thought in his writings.
4. Evil is understood as a privation of good, not a substance in itself.
5. The journey from despair to enlightenment is central to Boethius's philosophy.

Keywords

Boethius, Plato, Consolation of Philosophy, medieval philosophy, Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Thomas Ward, liberal arts, happiness, evil as privation, philosophy, Deacon Harrison Garlick, great books