Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy Essay

Hundreds of philosophers existed thousands of eld ago. It was a date when the except leisure you could believably do was think, theorize, consider and discover topics. Obviously, twain thousand days put forward change the habit of batch and these days, thinking would birth a freshet of effort. The disco re every(prenominal)y of new things neer snatch as tidy sum have that advocate to continue improves lives. In history and school of thought classes, gigantic thinkers and philosophers were often studied. It is pretty dire to read their works and come up with such(prenominal) incredible thoughts at that time.Often, they parley nearly leadership and politics. It was a time when countries ar hush developed and lands argon besides to be discovered so a gigantic leadership was very big. Although we would free analyze and review the philosophers works, to a greater extent than often their teachings can non be use to the certain times. Sometimes change does non tho necessitate technology and advancement, it can as well apply to leadership and certain philosophic views. A great factor would involve the changing times. The lifestyle and the culture of the plurality are much different thousands of years ago.It was a time that women were limited to do domestic chores. Philosophers standardised Plato and Aristotle, wrote al approximately what they of women during that time. It was probably a time when the role of women in the society is not defined. Of course, women nowadays are knock-down(a) and strong. They have created their mark in the society and gender bias in a lot of major industries is non-existent. That is wherefore a lot of rules and laws cannot be applied to the world today. However, at that place are steady roughly teachings that can be use up to now. These are the teachings that involve a great perspective in life.Sometimes, an famous perspective on life makes a mortal great. Anyway, the brain is the most goodish organ that is wherefore the mind should take control of unitys lives. Teachings about life are very substantial that is why some philosophers and great thinkers are idolized and people formed a religion to continue preaching their teachings. maven of the members of the recollective list of philosophers is Boethius. Although not as familiar as Aristotle and Plato, Anicius Manlius Severinus is the real produce of this Roman philosopher exactly he was more famously cognise as Boethius.Boethius was natural from a wealthy and educated family and like any other kids during that time he studied poetry, mathematics and doctrine. Theodoric, the Gothic poove ruling from Italy to Rome, appointed him court minister. Soon, his 2 boys became court ministers as well. He was a bold and brave man, with thoughts envied by a lot of people. His boldness is what brought him down as he became the object of vengeance of those oppressed. Boethius was sleep togethern to check in the oppressions of some leaders. He was then acc utilise of treason and was unembellished of his dignities. In 524, he was executed in Pavia.While in prison, Boethius immersed himself in written material and on that point he wrote his greatest work. His masterpiece, The solacement of philosophical system, talks about random thoughts about nature, thoice and evil doings. The quilt of Philosophy is a work mixed of prose and verse. It is a copy of Boethius conversation with Philosophy during the lonesome years of the prisoners life. The work was theistic over wholly only if it did not indicate whether the generator was Christian or not. In the Consolation of Philosophy, Philosophy showed Boethius how uncertain terrene circumstances is and there is nothing more upright than virtue.Boethius was the last great Roman writer who translated Aristotles work. His translations were the sole means of perusal Hellenic philosophy for a desire time. His manuals on geometry, music, philosophy, ari thmetic and astronomy were used in medieval schools. It may expect that Boethius may be having apparitions in his prison, but these visions came with a great message and a deeper insight. Boethius saw the reason behind his imprisonment and his conversations with Philosophy terminate his misery and unfastened his eyes to better things, better perception. on that point was more to a great fortune and earthly things.It was probably some of the great things that Philosophy advised him that can still be applied up to the advanced times. The primary part of the reserve opens with Boethius having some afternoon thinking and authorship when each in all of a sudden a charwoman appears in front of her. He draw the woman as very bonnie and having a very powerful presence. He distinctively described her dress having embroidered the Greek letter Pi at the fag end and on the top hem, Theta. There was a ladder in between the two letters. She was holding books to her right hand and a scepter in the left.She was the hypothecate of song. Boethius was soon having one of his many a(prenominal) melancholy moments. tear were trickling down Boethius eyes when the cogitate of Poetry became angry. She was questioning the existence of sluts in Boethius place. She says that they alto start outher provide him ephemeral happiness that forget not serve him in his coach but instead will wane it. The Muse of Poetry then pushed outside(a) the girls and they left in dismay. Boethius was teary-eyed as they left but pointtually the Muse will explain why she did such thing (ODonnell 21).The first part of the book shows how deserted Boethius sensations was in the prison that he tries to enjoy his self from getting temporary happiness. Apparitions or not, the Muse of Poetry shooed onward the cause of all these but Boethius couldnt help but feel monstrous of her act he even questioned her authority. This lesson can still be applied to youthful times. Often, when peop le have problems they are pushed to do band-aid solutions that will give them a terse term solution to their problem. It is such an wound up thing to do that people do not even think of the long term effect or even the long term solution to their problem.A concrete example would be poverty. It is a sad fact that poor people are often pushed to do the dingy thing. When a person is desperate to get food, he often steals. This solution just makes things more complicated as that person ends up ruining his life by spending it in jail. It is one of the many things that emotions take over and the mind rest behind. People often think of short-term solutions to their problems without considering the long-term consequences of these short-term solutions. The undermentioned stanza talks about how the Muse of Poetry consoled Boethius grieve soul.It was very well written with descriptions of how vicious Boethius has been. She assured Boethius that everything was passage to be approve and that it was a time of healing not grieving. The Muse narrated how he brought up Boethius being the great man that he is now. And although his posture may seem to be not bright, these too shall pass for the Muse is there to protect him and assure him that his virtues will overtop in this hardship (ODonnell 24). This stanza was definitely was of the most touching part of the book.Really, this was the consolation of philosophy and one cant help but feel for Boethius suffering. He was deprive of the life he deserved yet his imprisonment didnt stop him from writing wonderful works. The second stanza excessively hints on the probable religion of the PhilosopherChristianity. The Muse someways reminds me of Mother Mary and how she would protect her son from danger. It also signifies that the philosopher believes in a talismanic being that is more powerful than the earthly soul. Like any other gay being, Boethius was going finished probably the toughest meshing in his life.And every human goes through with(predicate) that. No librate how driven or optimistic we are in our lives, there will always come a point that we want to give up. What the Muse was trying to communicate was that Boethius was born and do greater than his problems. And that does not exempt us. This do be theistic, but God wont give us a problem that we could not bear. It is just regular that we feel like giving up at times especially when all hopes lost but all we have to do is to ride out to that goal and the universe will invoke to make life better for us.The succeeding(a) stanza talks about how the night ended and the day started with Boethius describing his physician examining him. The physician sullen out to be Philosophy and she narrated how she has been with Boethius all along. She narrated how she started with Plato and Socrates and how she has turned out to be what she is now. She explained to Boethius how she has been pickings care of him all throughout his life. The next st anza narrates his conversation with Philosophy. She tested him of the things he knew and welcomed him of her questions.The first thing that Philosophy asked him was if believed that life is bountiful of chances. And he bluntly answered that God governs his creations and everything happens for a reason and he will never abandon His creation. The Philosophy then asked him why he was in such sadness when he believes that God knows the best for him. By then, the writer was dumbstruck for he did not know the answer. The Philosophy knew something was missing and she was right. Boethius soon confessed that he was overpowered by grief. He knew the answer but he was just miserable to sack up that the answer was just right in front of him.Philosophy then tell that the reason of his sickness is his grief and it was he who created all of those (ODonnell 28). The following lines were so powerful that one cannot help but bushel to Boethius situation. Pretty sure every one has at peace(p) th rough that pain. It was a feeling of emptiness and pity. It was as if the world has gone against us and everything is so not going our way. At the back of our minds, we know that something great is lurking around. We just have to be patient role as good things come to those who wait. It was also just a national of accept and working for whatever it that we want.It was a matter of realizing that we are in control of our livesthrough Gods guidance that is. In general, the teachings of Philosophy can definitely still be applied to modern times. We all go through trials no matter what time or age we may be. It is just a matter of perspective. And although Boethius didnt have any material thing left for him, it was his virtue that was more important than anything else. And that applies to all of us as well. lend Cited ODonell, J. Life of Boethius. Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania. Pages, 1996.