by Tina Mead

Created on: April 04, 2008   Last Updated: April 06, 2008

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy
Summary and Influence

Written in a combination of prose and verse, Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy "has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West in Medieval and early Renaissance Christianity" (Wikipedia). Thomas Curley summarizes the work like this: "The Consolatio is an extended dialogue between the prisoner Boethius and Dame Philosophy who appears to him as he pens an elegiac lament on his fall from fortune. In the course of their discussion Philosophy guides her pupil from a state of self-centered despondency to a conception of God, all-good and all-powerful, whose providence controls the cosmos. Philosophy's purpose is to make apparent to Boethius God's dynamic presence in the world" (Curley, 344). Boethius and the Lady Philosophy the nature of worldly goods and though all humans desire perfect happiness, wealth, power, and possessions are not the path to it. But, it is argued, since all humans desire it, this perfect happiness must exist, and God is a being that has attained it. Since evil does not share mankind's goal, this pursuit of ultimate happiness, it has no real meaning. Also, people must accept whatever Fate gives them, for both good things and bad things help make people stronger.

Concerning free will, Philosophy concludes that though God is all knowing, this does not mean that humans do not have free will. God's knowledge is not like our knowledge: our knowledge is linear and time-based, whereas his is not. He sees all times at once.

Though the Consolation is not blatantly Christian, many argue that nothing in the text contradicts Christian doctrine. In fact, Edward Kennard Rand says that, "had [Boethius] lived [longer], he might well have gone farther, as his theological writings already indicate, and anticipated St. Thomas in harmonizing Plato, Aristotle, and Christian doctrine in one imposing system The Consolatio does notdeal directly with problems of Christian theology, but it is the work of a Christian theologian" (Rand, 7, 28).

Boethius has had a continuing impact on authors around the world. Though most scholars look at Boethius' Consolation as a philosophical treatise (which it is), those that actually consider it as a "work of literature" mostly investigate his sources and examine his influence on following authors, most notably Dante and Chaucer. In Dante's Convivio, there are no less than ten specific references to Boethius, and many more in his other works. It is interesting to note, though, that though Dante obviously admired Boethius, he made it clear that he did not consider him to be a philosopher of the same caliber or authority as Aristotle.

There is no doubt that the Consolation of Philosophy is one of the most significant philosophical pieces ever written. Its far-ranging, long-lasting influence speaks for itself. The ideas presented about free will are still relevant and the ripples in philosophy and literature are fascinating to study.

Works Cited

1. Briesemeister, Dietrich. "The Consolatio Philosophiae of Boethius in Medieval Spain."
2. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 53 (1990): 61-70.
3. Curley, Thomas F., III. "The Consolation of Philosophy as a Work of Literature." The American Journal of Philology 108 (1987): 343-367.
4. Gualtieri, Angelo. "Lady Philosophy in Boethius and Dante." Comparative Literature 23 (1971): 141-150.
5. "Consolation of Philosophy." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolation_of_Philosop hy 4 Aug. 07
6. Rand, Edward Kennard. "On the Composition of Boethius' Consolatio Philosophiae." Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 15 (1904): 1-28.

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