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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Thoroughly enjoyed this work. It’s very powerful to read the ways in which a man condemned to die horribly consoles himself and tries to find some way to give himself power once more despite his circumstances. A great and timeless read. Furthermore, it’s the first true prosimeric work I’ve read and I loved it. Whereas most philosophers of the time and preceding Boethius have condemned poetry, his use of it spoke to the parts of the soul not governed by logic—emotion and rhythm among the few things which only poetry can get across as it does—to further his points in a more deeply affective manner. Highly recommended reading for anyone looking for spiritual guidance or just feeling lost.
Really interesting / unfortunate lore behind this book. Would be great as an introduction to Socratic dialogue if you’re interested in reading the Greeks in my opinion.
I feel like a regular Ignatius Reilly now. Book was pretty good, not too thick for an old timey philosophy book, either.
I had to read this book for my Core Humanities class. I was not sure if I was going to like this book, however, I loved it. This book explored many interesting topics and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about what people thought about in the past. This books influence can still be seen in the modern world and that is one of the reasons it is so influential in the western world.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I still think back to the argument put forth in this book about free will vs determinism and God's omniscience. sigh
I am going to be terribly arrogant here and say that I think Boethius is wrong. I will probably be laughing at myself in twenty years and recant, but let it stand for now. Wiser men and women than I have better opinions; let me have my laugh.
I did enjoy this book when I read it two years ago. I think everyone should read it. It has shaped the way we in the West think about good, evil, God, theodicy, philosophy, theology, pain, grief... pretty much everything. Also, it's not a bad read. I bet it's better in Latin.
Also, I bet I'll understand it better if I reread it. So then maybe I won't think Boethius is wrong. However, at the moment I remain unconvinced a) that you cannot do something with solely evil motivations and b) that philosophy can actually console anyone.
Thankfully I have the true Sapientia as my consolation ;) (and so did Boethius btw)
I did enjoy this book when I read it two years ago. I think everyone should read it. It has shaped the way we in the West think about good, evil, God, theodicy, philosophy, theology, pain, grief... pretty much everything. Also, it's not a bad read. I bet it's better in Latin.
Also, I bet I'll understand it better if I reread it. So then maybe I won't think Boethius is wrong. However, at the moment I remain unconvinced a) that you cannot do something with solely evil motivations and b) that philosophy can actually console anyone.
Thankfully I have the true Sapientia as my consolation ;) (and so did Boethius btw)
It was basically The Consolation of Platonist Christian Philosophy with a splash of stoicism. If you don't assume the existence of the Christian god, it isn't very satisfying. The most interesting part for me was his implications for divine providence, but he dismissed it with some Platonist slight of hand.