Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy Essay

Hundreds of philosophers existed thousands of years ago. It was a time when the only leisure you could probably do was think, theorize, analyze and discover things. Obviously, two thousand years can vary the habit of people and these days, thinking would take a lot of effort. The discovery of new things never stop as people have that urge to go improves lives. In history and philosophy classes, great thinkers and philosophers were often studied. It is pretty amazing to read their works and come up with much(prenominal) incredible thoughts at that time.Often, they express about leadership and politics. It was a time when countries be settle down developed and lands atomic number 18 yet to be discovered so a great leadership was very important. Although we would still analyze and review the philosophers works, more often their teachings cannot be applied to the current times. Sometimes change does not only involve engine room and advancement, it can also apply to leadership an d certain philosophical views. A great factor would involve the changing times. The animatenessstyle and the culture of the people argon much different thousands of years ago.It was a time that women were limited to do domestic chores. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, wrote about 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 powerful 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, there are still some teachings that can be used up to now. These are the teachings that involve a great perspective in life.Sometimes, an illustrious perspective on life makes a soul great. Anyway, the brain is the most powerful electric organ that is why the mind should take control of bingles lives. Teachings about life are very important t hat is why some philosophers and great thinkers are idolized and people formed a religion to continue preaching their teachings. One of the members of the long list of philosophers is Boethius. Although not as familiar as Aristotle and Plato, Anicius Manlius Severinus is the very name of this Roman philosopher but he was more famously getn as Boethius.Boethius was born from a wealthy and educated family and like any opposite kids during that time he studied poetry, mathematics and philosophy. Theodoric, the Gothic King ruling from Italy to Rome, ap placeed him court minister. Soon, his two sons became court ministers as well. He was a open 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 known to check in the oppressions of some leaders. He was then accused of t solid ground and was stripped of his dignities. In 524, he was executed in Pavia.While in prison, Boethiu s immersed himself in report and there he wrote his sterling(prenominal) work. His masterpiece, The Consolation of philosophical system, negotiation about random thoughts about nature, justice and evil doings. The Consolation of Philosophy is a work mixed of prose and verse. It is a copy of Boethius chat with Philosophy during the lvirtuosoly years of the prisoners life. The work was theistic overall but it did not indicate whether the writer was Christian or not. In the Consolation of Philosophy, Philosophy showed Boethius how uncertain earthly fortune is and there is nothing more secure than virtue.Boethius was the last great Roman writer who translated Aristotles work. His translations were the sole means of canvass Greek philosophy for a long time. His manuals on geometry, music, philosophy, arithmetic and astronomy were used in medieval schools. It may seem that Boethius may be having apparitions in his prison, but these visions came with a great message and a deeper insig ht. Boethius saw the reason behind his imprisonment and his conversations with Philosophy ended his misery and opened his eyes to purify things, better perception. There 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 modern times. The first part of the book opens with Boethius having some afternoon thinking and writing when all of a sudden a charr appears in front of her. He described the woman as very beautiful and having a very powerful presence. He distinctively described her garb having embroidered the Greek letter Pi at the bottom and on the top hem, Theta. There was a ladder in between the two letters. She was holding books to her make up hand and a scepter in the left.She was the muse of Poetry. Boethius was currently having one of his many melancholy moments. Tears were trickling down Boethius eyes when the Muse of Poetry became angry. She was challenge the existenc e of sluts in Boethius place. She says that they only provide him temporary happiness that will not help him in his condition but instead will aggravate it. The Muse of Poetry then pushed away the girls and they left in dismay. Boethius was teary-eyed as they left but eventually the Muse will explain why she did such thing (ODonnell 21).The first part of the book shows how deserted Boethius feelings was in the prison that he tries to enjoy his self from getting temporary happiness. Apparitions or not, the Muse of Poetry shooed away the cause of all these but Boethius couldnt help but feel terrible of her act he even questioned her authority. This lesson can still be applied to modern times. Often, when people have problems they are pushed to do band-aid resolutions that will give them a short 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 wo uld be poverty. It is a sad fact that poor people are often pushed to do the bad 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 disbursement it in jail. It is one of the many things that emotions take over and the mind stays behind. People often think of short-term solutions to their problems without considering the long-term consequences of these short-term solutions. The next stanza talks about how the Muse of Poetry consoled Boethius grieving soul.It was very well written with descriptions of how miserable Boethius has been. She assured Boethius that all(prenominal)thing was going to be okay and that it was a time of improve not grieving. The Muse narrated how he brought up Boethiusbeing the great man that he is now. And although his situation may seem to be not bright, these too shall cleft for the Muse is there to protect him and assure him that his virtues will prev ail 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 deprived of the life he deserved yet his imprisonment didnt stop him from writing wonderful works. The second stanza also hints on the probable religion of the PhilosopherChristianity. The Muse somehow reminds me of Mother Mary and how she would protect her son from danger. It also signifies that the philosopher believes in a supernatural being that is more powerful than the earthly soul. Like any other human being, Boethius was going through probably the toughest battle in his life.And every human goes through that. No matter 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 made greater than his problems. And that does not exempt us. This made be theisti c, but God wont give us a problem that we could not bear. It is just normal that we feel like giving up at times especially when all hopes lost but all we have to do is to stick to that goal and the universe will conspire to make life better for us.The next stanza talks about how the night ended and the day started with Boethius describing his physician examining him. The physician glum 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 taking care of him all throughout his life. The next stanza 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 ripe 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 grief 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 realize that the answer was just right in front of him.Philosophy then declared 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 relate to Boethius situation. Pretty sure every one has gone through 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 as good things come to those who wait. It was also just a matter of believing and working for some (prenominal) 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. Work Cited ODonell, J. Life of Boethius. protoactinium University of Pennsylvania. Pages, 1996.