The Consolation of Philosophy


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(4.4 stars; 41 reviews)

Consolation of Philosophy (Latin: Consolatio Philosophiae) is a philosophical work by Boethius written in about the year 524 AD. It has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West in medieval and early Renaissance Christianity, and is also the last great work that can be called Classical.

Consolation of Philosophy was written during Boethius' one year imprisonment while awaiting trial, and eventual horrific execution, for the crime of treason by Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great. Boethius was at the very heights of power in Rome and was brought down by treachery. It was from this experience he was inspired to write a philosophical book from prison reflecting on how a lord's favor could change so quickly and why friends would turn against him. It has been described as “by far the most interesting example of prison literature the world has ever seen.”

The Consolation of Philosophy stands, by its note of fatalism and its affinities with the Christian doctrine of humility, midway between the heathen philosophy of Seneca the Younger and the later Christian philosophy of consolation represented by Thomas Aquinas.

The book is heavily influenced by Plato and his dialogues (as was Boethius himself). (Summary from Wikipedia) (5 hr 13 min)

Chapters

Preface & Proem 7:21 Read by Kirsten Ferreri
Bk1: Song I: Boethius' Complaint, and section I 4:58 Read by Alex Patterson
Bk1: Song II: His Depondency, and section II 2:53 Read by Alex Patterson
Bk 1: Song III: The Mists Dispelled, and section III 4:08 Read by Ben Douglas
Bk 1: Song IV: Nothing Can Subdue Virtue, and section IV 16:21 Read by David Barnes
Bk 1: Song V: Boethius' Prayer, and section V 6:26 Read by Carl Manchester
Bk 1: Song VI: All Things Have Their Needful Order, and section VI 5:53 Read by Carl Manchester
Bk 1: Song VII: The Perturbations of Passion 1:23 Read by Hugh McGuire
Bk 2: Section I, and Song I: Fortune's Malice 6:18 Read by Hugh McGuire
Bk 2: Section II, and Song II: Man's Covetousness 5:15 Read by Hugh McGuire
Bk 2: Section III, and Song III: All Passes 5:41 Read by Cori Samuel
Bk 2: Section IV, and Song IV: The Golden Mean 8:25 Read by Kirsten Ferreri
Bk 2: Section V, and Song V: The Former Age 11:34 Read by David Barnes
Bk 2: Section VI, and Song VI: Nero's Infamy 6:51 Read by Mark Owen
Bk 2: Section VII, and Song VII: Glory May Not Last 7:09 Read by Kirsten Ferreri
Bk 2: Section VIII, and Song VIII: Love Is Lord of All 3:40 Read by Kirsten Ferreri
Bk 3: Section I, and Song I: The Thorns of Error 2:43 Read by hugh mac
Bk 3: Section II, and Song II: The Bent of Nature 9:19 Read by Gesine
Bk 3: Section III, and Song III: The Insatiableness of Avarice 5:21 Read by hugh mac
Bk 3: Section IV, and Song IV: Disgrace of Honours Conferred by a Tyrant 4:28 Read by hugh mac
Bk 3: Section V, and Song V: Self-Mastery 3:47 Read by hugh mac
Bk 3: Section VI, and Song VI: True Nobility 3:15 Read by hugh mac
Bk 3: Section VII, and Song VII: Pleasure's Sting 2:27 Read by Maddie
Bk 3: Section VIII, and Song VIII: Human Folly 5:05 Read by Maddie
Bk 3: Section IX, and Song IX: Invocation 12:07 Read by Cyril Law, Jr.
Bk 3: Section X, and Song X: The True Light 13:43 Read by Cyril Law, Jr.
Bk 3: Section XI, and Song XI: Reminiscence 9:56 Read by Ben Douglas
Bk 3: Section XII, and Song XII: Orpheus and Eurydice 12:37 Read by D.E. Wittkower
Bk 4: Section I, and Song I: The Soul's Flight 5:52 Read by Cori Samuel
Bk 4: Section II, and Song II: The Bondage of Passion 10:49 Read by hugh mac
Bk 4: Section III, and Song III: Circe's Cup 8:29 Read by Susie G.
Bk 4: Section IV, and Song IV: The Unreasonableness of Hatred 14:01 Read by Cori Samuel
Bk 4: Section V, and Song V: Wonder and Ignorance 4:05 Read by David Barnes
Bk 4: Section VI, and Song VI: The Universal Aim 21:02 Read by David Barnes
Bk 4: Section VII, and Song VII: The Hero's Path 5:21 Read by Ben Douglas
Bk 5: Section I, and Song I: Chance 7:21 Read by Andrew Miller
Bk 5: Section II, and Song II: The True Sun 3:12 Read by hugh mac
Bk 5: Section III, and Song III: Truth's Paradoxes 11:04 Read by Stan Still
Bk 5: Section IV, and Song IV: A Psychological Fallacy 10:49 Read by ML Cohen
Bk 5: Section V, and Song V: The Upward Look 6:20 Read by Mark Owen
Bk 5: Section VI & Epilogue 15:35 Read by Cori Samuel

Reviews

this is a great book


(5 stars)

A great and very accessible book. I highly recommend.

My favorite piece of prison literature.


(5 stars)

Book is 5 stars, readers 4


(4.5 stars)

Some of the readers sound like they're almost whispering. I suppose that's not a problem if you're into ASMR, but I found it a bit annoying.


(2 stars)

Weak prose, all noise. Love god and wisdom. Saved you five hours.