The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius
I came across this little work through a single quote in another book I was reading. I was so drawn by the quote (“Nothing is miserable unless you think it so; and on the other hand, nothing brings happiness unless you are content with it.”) that I decided to order the book to see what it was about. It’s one of my favorite philosophy pieces to date, right next to the Letters from a Stoic.
Boethius was a high-ranking officer in Rome. He was considered highly influential, and was predictably sent to execution not long after the hands of power changed to a new ruler than the one Boethius had built up his career under.
Boethius (understandably) laments his fate until the embodiment of philosophy arrives to chastise him. Having been through a difficult time this year, I resonated with Boethius’ confusion, resentment, and sadness at the beginning of the book. I was similarly lifted up as philosophy challenged his perspective and gave him insight into the challenges life presents. It made me gain a new appreciation for my own challenges, as well as take stock of the things I was taking for granted.
Boethius was Christian, but focuses largely on logic as opposed to faith to make sense of his situation, which makes this book more relatable to a larger audience, in my opinion. This is a really awesome beginner book for those curious about philosophy, and an excellent read if you’re in the middle of a challenging period in your life. Boethius is not too well known considering he spent a majority of his life translating the works of other philosophers, despite his dream to contribute works of his own. This piece, written during the last few months of his life, cemented his legacy as a contributor to the works he adored. I’ll be rereading many times over in the future.
I came across this little work through a single quote in another book I was reading. I was so drawn by the quote (“Nothing is miserable unless you think it so; and on the other hand, nothing brings happiness unless you are content with it.”) that I decided to order the book to see what it was about. It’s one of my favorite philosophy pieces to date, right next to the Letters from a Stoic.
Boethius was a high-ranking officer in Rome. He was considered highly influential, and was predictably sent to execution not long after the hands of power changed to a new ruler than the one Boethius had built up his career under.
Boethius (understandably) laments his fate until the embodiment of philosophy arrives to chastise him. Having been through a difficult time this year, I resonated with Boethius’ confusion, resentment, and sadness at the beginning of the book. I was similarly lifted up as philosophy challenged his perspective and gave him insight into the challenges life presents. It made me gain a new appreciation for my own challenges, as well as take stock of the things I was taking for granted.
Boethius was Christian, but focuses largely on logic as opposed to faith to make sense of his situation, which makes this book more relatable to a larger audience, in my opinion. This is a really awesome beginner book for those curious about philosophy, and an excellent read if you’re in the middle of a challenging period in your life. Boethius is not too well known considering he spent a majority of his life translating the works of other philosophers, despite his dream to contribute works of his own. This piece, written during the last few months of his life, cemented his legacy as a contributor to the works he adored. I’ll be rereading many times over in the future.