Boethius was an eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric, and an exceptional Greek scholar. When he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in Pavia, it was to the Greek philosophers that he turned. THE CONSOLATION was written in the period leading up to his brutal execution. It is a dialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and his 'nurse' Philosophy. Her instruction on the nature of fortune and happiness, good and evil, fate and free w...

Written while Boethius was in prison awaiting execution, The Consolation of Philosophy consists of a dialogue in alternating prose and verse between the author, lamenting his own sorrows, and a majestic woman, who is the incarnation of his guardian Philosophy. The woman develops a modified form of Neoplatonism and Stoicism, demonstrating the unreality of earthly fortunes, then proving that the highest good and the highest happiness are in God, and reconciling the apparent contradi...

According to Wikipedia: "Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius,commonly called Boethius (ca. 480524 or 525 AD) was a philosopher of the early 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and prominent family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls... Boethius was imprisoned and eventually executed by King Theodoric the Great, who suspected him of conspiring with the Eastern Roman Empire. While jailed, Boethius composed his Consolation of Philosophy, a philoso...

Boethius' best-known work is the "Consolations of Philosophy" written during his imprisonment -- "by far the most interesting example of prison literature the world has ever seen." It is a dialogue between Philosophy and Boethius, in which the Queen of Sciences strives to console the fallen statesman. The main argument of the discourse is the transitoriness and unreality of all earthly greatness and the superior desirability of the things of the mind. There are evident traces of the influe...

In this highly praised new translation of Boethius’s The Consolation of Philosophy, David R. Slavitt presents a graceful, accessible, and modern version for both longtime admirers of one of the great masterpieces of philosophical literature and those encountering it for the first time. Slavitt preserves the distinction between the alternating verse and prose sections in the Latin original, allowing us to appreciate the Menippian parallels between the discourses of literary and log...

In 'The Consolation of Philosophy (3 Classic Translations by James, Cooper and Sedgefield)', readers are invited to explore the timeless philosophical discourse that has influenced centuries of thought. This anthology presents three distinct translations, each offering a unique lens through which the intricate arguments of Ancius Manlius Severinus Boethius are viewed. Delve into the profound exploration of fortune, fate, and happiness, as these thematic elements are woven through a tapestr...

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, a Roman philosopher, statesman, and theologian, penned the timeless classic 'The Consolation of Philosophy'. This philosophical work, written in a dialogue form, explores themes of fate, free will, happiness, and the nature of good and evil. Boethius, deeply influenced by ancient Greek philosophy, incorporates Socratic method in his discussions with Lady Philosophy, compelling readers to ponder profound questions about the nature of existence. The Collec...

Anicus Manlius Severinus Boethius lived in the last quarter of the fifth century A.D., and the first quarter of the sixth. He was growing to manhood, when Theodoric, the famous Ostrogoth, crossed the Alps and made himself master of Italy. Boethius belonged to an ancient family, which boasted a connection with the legendary glories of the Republic, and was still among the foremost in wealth and dignity in the days of Rome's abasement. His parents dying early, he was brought up by Symmachus,...

The original Latin text plus an English translation of both books. According to Wikipedia: "Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius (ca. 480524 or 525) was a Christian or pagan philosopher of the 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and important family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls. His father, Flavius Manlius Boethius, was consul in 487 after Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman Emperor. Boethius himself was consul in 510 in the kingdom of...

The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius: Enter the world of ancient philosophy and wisdom with "The Consolation of Philosophy" by Boethius. This classic work of philosophy explores Boethius' struggles with injustice and calamity and the ways in which philosophical reasoning can bring peace and solace to the troubled soul. Boethius' elegant prose and timeless insights make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the art of living.

This file includes: The Consolation of Philosophy and Theological Tractates by Boethius (in both English and Latin), Essays of Montaigne (all 10 volumes), Thus Spake Zarathustra by Nietzsche, Rudolph Eucken A Philosophy of Life by Abel J. Jones, and The Philosophy of Despair by David Starr Jordan.

This collection is based on the required reading list of Yale Department of Classics. Originally designed for students, this anthology is meant for everyone eager to know more about the history and literature of this period, interested in poetry, philosophy and rhetoric of Ancient Rome. Latin literature is a natural successor of Ancient Greek literature. The beginning of Classic Roman literature dates to 240 BC. From that point on, Latin literature would flourish for the next six centuries...