Definition of Person in the perspective of Boethius

Abstract

The presente article, derived from a bibliographical research, aims to present in a simple way the definition of person proposed by Boethius. Before exposing this definition, it is necessary to understand the reasons that led him to study and propose this conclusion. Boethius, after facing concerns about the heresies committed by Êutiques and Nestorius in the Councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon in (451), uses his time to discuss these themes. Boethius concludes his research by presenting the following definition of person: Individual Substance of Rational Nature. It should be remembered that Boethius is aware of the term hypotasis which was one of the person definitions presented by Plotinus and also supported by the Cappadocian fathers. In the course of this article, we will contemplate the terms mentioned above, as well as the etymology of the words person and mask in order to contemplate the bias adopted by Boethius to define what, in fact, the person itself is, permeating through his work The Consolation of Philosophy.