Boethius’ understanding of rhetoric
as a faculty is reflected in his explanation of how it should be used. His Structure
of Rhetoric is highly matter-of-fact in its definition of rhetoric. Boethius conveys a few a layers that apply to
all areas of rhetoric. Deliberative,
demonstrative and judicial rhetoric are all to contain invention, disposition,
style, memory and delivery. In addition,
all orations must contain six particular elements. This guide to good rhetoric is a very general
summary that claims to be sufficiently broad to cover the entire realm of
rhetoric. This presentation is most likely somewhat influenced by his role as a
courtly educator. For those he was
teaching, divine and philosophical matters were less important then the civil
matters that the Structure of Rhetoric
addresses. The absence of moral implications in his rhetoric is surprising
considering his Christian, as well as Aristotelian and Platonic
influences. Like Plato he sees rhetoric
merely as tool, but unlike Plato who felt it could be used to find greater
truth, Boethius seems to deem it unworthy of such lofty goals. Likewise, he doesn’t put stress on the
importance of moral oration like Aristotle or Cicero. Because he is a
Christian, he sees no need for rhetoric to address ethics. That matter is
already settled in the bible. Because his religion occupies the entirety of his
ethical beliefs, morality and rhetoric are very clearly and completely
separated. They have absolutely nothing
to do with each other. Therefore
Boethius’ analysis of rhetoric is highly apprehensible, applicable, and amoral.
Abe,
ReplyDeleteI too wondered about where morality fit in. On page 491, Boethius informs us that the orator's "duty is to speak well", omitting Quintillian's idea of a good man- an idea that I thought was pretty universally agreed upon. It recalls Aristotle's emphasis on ethos, though now that I think about it, are morality and ethos necessarily tied together? This is definitely a question I've wrestled with throughout the semester, but I think you make a valid point by pointing out the role Christianity inevitably plays. That definitely makes sense when you note that morality and rhetoric are separate, an idea I don't agree with, but one that aligns with how Boethius defines rhetoric in the first place. Nice post!
Molly