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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
A supple, dense, compact, serene book, Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy is one man's rumination on the fickle nature of fortune and the solidness of inner virtue. With direct references from the Greek and Latin classical traditions, and indirect echoes of Christian scripture and thought, Boethius tries to make sense of his place in a prison, of man in the universe, and of humanity with God.
slow-paced
Purchased for a pretty boring philosophy class in college, but this book had a great effect on me. I own an 18th printing from 1981.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
While at times repetitive save the final book (which features the worst arguments by analogy but which fit well with a leap of faith), it is supremely worth reading today. Studying it historically or as a mastery of the classical forms—it is chocked with references—shows an incredibly impressive work, although mostly composed of pastiche. Many of the ideas here, themselves usually recycled but united in a novel secular-religious union, remain relevant bases for theologically informed philosophical investigation. Boethius remains relevant today. It is hard to overstate how singularly educated he was for his day.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Death, Torture
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It is immediately apparent why this book caused such a ruckus throughout the Middle Ages. It is a fascinating reflection on the age old question of pre-determinism, free will, fortune, and the placement of human rationale.