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The Consolation of Philosophy

Gelesen von LibriVox Volunteers

(4,439 Sterne; 41 Bewertungen)

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

Bewertungen

this is a great book

(5 Sterne)

A great and very accessible book. I highly recommend.

My favorite piece of prison literature.

(5 Sterne)

Book is 5 stars, readers 4

(4,5 Sterne)

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 Sterne)

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