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The Consolation of Philosophy by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius. It is a profound synthesis of classical philosophy and personal reflection on the human co
by nataliste 2y ago
The Consolation of Philosophy by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius.
It is a profound synthesis of classical philosophy and personal reflection on the human condition. Boethius, writing in prison while awaiting execution, blends Stoic, Neoplatonic, and Christian ideas to address timeless questions of fate, fortune, happiness, and virtue. It transcends religious dogma and focuses on rational inquiry into how one can find inner peace and intellectual clarity amidst an almost total inversion of fortune.
Unlike Marcus Aurelius, writing at the peak of his power, Boethius wrote his at the bottom, and did so with more skin in the game. Marcus gave us Commodus and the Decline, Boethius gave us Aristotle and the Rebirth.
- ruraljuror 2y agoCurious if you have read A Confederacy of Dunces? It is how I learned of Boethius, although I can't say I remember much of either.
- jihadjihad 2y agoI'm curious as well, the GP comment immediately made me think of Ignatius, haha.
- gadders 2y agoIt set my pyloric valve off.
- shaftoe444 2y agoI think it showed the proper reverence for theology and geometry.
- mckn1ght 2y agoThat is one of my favorite books. Read it in one day, couldn’t put it down.
- Dove 2y agoThank you for the recommendation - I'll take a look!
- rpdillon 2y agoThanks for the suggestion, I'm interested! Found it on Standard Ebooks, in case that helps someone else: https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/boethius/the-consolation-of-philosophy/h-r-james/ https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/boethius/the-consolation-o...
- aanet 2y agoThanks for this brief endorsement. I'll add it to my list of books to read... Currently, running a rather high tsundoku... My own fav is also called Consolation of Philosophy but it's by Alain de Botton, one of my fav contemporary writers. His prose is fine, and the writing's a treat. His book is of course a modern treatment of Boethius. Recommended!
- tosser0001 2y ago1. There's a fun reference to this book in the movie "24 Hour Party People" 2. Chaucer's translation is referenced in the OED as the first use of the word "twitter" in the English language