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The Consolation of Philosophy was required reading for my undergrad Chaucer classes and other Medieval Studies courses, because Boece is Chaucer's translation i
by wyclif 6y ago
The Consolation of Philosophy was required reading for my undergrad Chaucer classes and other Medieval Studies courses, because Boece is Chaucer's translation into Middle English of Boethius' Consolation. For me it was an ancillary study but I ended up going pretty far down the rabbit hole into other ancient philosophical works from there.
Why read Boethius today? The answer, as the author says, is because Boethius is a still a guide to those who want to "seek answers about how to live in relation to our mortality."
- 082349872349872 6y agoShort answer to mortality: Livit lik sabaka fing to decho. (life sucks and then you die) Catchy, but my attitude to mortality is more optimistic and more resistant to soundbite. Best I can do at the moment, suitable also for our unicellular cousins, is: life is fire, slowed down, with an attitude. https://dwheeler.com/essays/all-men-are-mortal.html https://dwheeler.com/essays/all-men-are-mortal.html Bonus clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnrTNFWcsg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnrTNFWcsg
- inopinatus 6y agoMy takeaway corollary was more like “why bother doing anything? you’re here anyway, find your own bloody purpose”. It’s quite the empowering statement, given the right accent.