The Consolation of Philosophy

Boethius Boethius

ISBN 10: 0486421635 / ISBN 13: 9780486421636

Published by Dover Publications Inc., 2003

One of the most influential books in the history of Western thought, The Consolation of Philosophy was written in a prison cell by a condemned man. Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (c. 480-524) was a Roman scholar, theologian, philosopher, and statesman. Imprisoned by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric, probably on trumped-up subversion charges, he was thrown into a remote prison where he was eventually executed.While awaiting his fate, he wrote this dialogue in alternating prose and poetry between himself and his spiritual guardian. Its subject is human happiness and the possibility of achieving it in the midst of the suffering and disappointment that characterize human existence. As Richard H. Green notes in the introduction, For the reader of the Christian Middle Ages, The Consolation of Philosophy celebrated the life of the mind, or reason, and the possibility of its ultimate victory over the misfortunes and frustrations which attend fallen man's pursuit of transitory substitutes for the Supreme Good which alone can satisfy human desires.Mr. Green's translation is quite literal in order to remain as faithful as possible to Boethius's original meaning. He has also provided an informative introduction and notes. The result is a superbly accessible edition that still exercises a powerful influence on contemporary thinkers and theologians and represents a source of comfort and solace for the general reader. Seller Inventory # CIN0486421635G

Synopsis:

Landmark of Western thought written by a 6th-century Roman statesman and philosopher awaiting execution. Comprising a dialogue in alternating prose and verse between Boethius and his spiritual guardian, the book concerns happiness: how to achieve and maintain it amid life's inevitable pain. A cornerstone of medieval humanism.

About the Author: An aristocratic scholar and philosopher and one of the most influential members of the court of the Ostrogoth ruler Theodoric, Boethius (born c. 480 AD) was arrested for alleged treason (which he denied). During his confinement in northern Italy, he wrote his masterpiece, "The Consolation of Philosophy," a work in which he considers universal issues. Executed in about 526 AD.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Consolation of Philosophy
Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.
Publication Date: 2003
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Good