The Rhetorical Tradition, Boethius

Boethius placed a great emphasis on the Plato's studies, especially that of the imbalance between a higher power and man. He also makes an important distinction between argument and argumentation--the former being the constitution of a belief, and the latter being the expression of that belief.

I can't say I necessarily understand how he distinguishes the two; especially given that they are so intertwined--one cannot express belief without possessing a belief initially, so one cannot inherently do one without the other. 

I do enjoy his deconstruction of logic into three parts: that which defines, that which divides, that which deduces. The ARCS readings reflect this distinction, and there are no real instances of logic that does not fit into these categories. Defining logic would be used when writing a paper and taking a moment to explain the meaning of the word, logos, most appropriately. Dividing logic would be a positioned fact in a debate that would throw doubt into the air and break down an opponent's argument. A deducing logic would make a claim that could be readily backed up with supporting evidence, as we often do when we choose to write a paper.

He was an interesting man, but I was most interested in reading further on him to find that he may have slipped into Paganism at the last minute on his death bed. He made it that far, what made him lose his religion so suddenly? Did he actually lose his religion at all? Juicy gossip, of course.