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The Consolation of Philosophy (view source)
Revision as of 14:56, December 24, 2009
, 14:56, December 24, 2009Created page with '''The Consolation of Philosophy'' (De Consolatione Philosophiae) is a Latin text written by Boethius in the early 6th Century. It was written while the author was in pri...'
''The Consolation of Philosophy'' (De Consolatione Philosophiae) is a [[Latin]] text written by [[Boethius]] in the early 6th Century. It was written while the author was in prison awaiting execution. The text reflects the title: the story begins with the author imprisoned and feeling melancholy; [[Philosophy]] (here personified as a beautiful woman) appears and consoles him. It is written in the first person and alternates between poetry and prose. It was a favorite of [[Medieval]] [[European]] scholars and made the ancient concept of the [[Wheel of Fortune]] familiar.
Although Boethius was a Christian and the text is full of philosophical and spiritual ideas and frequently uses the word [[God]], it makes no outright reference to [[Christianity]]. Although Christianity influences the text, it is important to understand Boethius’s identity as a Roman. While writing, he experienced the fall of Rome and his own imprisonment. Coupled with his own rise and fall on the Wheel of Fortune, the [[Roman Empire]] has been destroyed. The imprisoned author draws on the Greco-Roman legacy of Philosophy for comfort.
==External Links==
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02610b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia on Boethius
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14328 Project Gutenberg’s ‘’Consolation of Philosophy’’; 1897 English translation
Although Boethius was a Christian and the text is full of philosophical and spiritual ideas and frequently uses the word [[God]], it makes no outright reference to [[Christianity]]. Although Christianity influences the text, it is important to understand Boethius’s identity as a Roman. While writing, he experienced the fall of Rome and his own imprisonment. Coupled with his own rise and fall on the Wheel of Fortune, the [[Roman Empire]] has been destroyed. The imprisoned author draws on the Greco-Roman legacy of Philosophy for comfort.
==External Links==
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02610b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia on Boethius
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14328 Project Gutenberg’s ‘’Consolation of Philosophy’’; 1897 English translation