The Consolation of Philosophy


Lu par LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 43 reviews)

Consolation of Philosophy (Latin: Consolatio Philosophiae) is a philosophical work by Boethius written in about the year 524 AD. It has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West in medieval and early Renaissance Christianity, and is also the last great work that can be called Classical.

Consolation of Philosophy was written during Boethius' one year imprisonment while awaiting trial, and eventual horrific execution, for the crime of treason by Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great. Boethius was at the very heights of power in Rome and was brought down by treachery. It was from this experience he was inspired to write a philosophical book from prison reflecting on how a lord's favor could change so quickly and why friends would turn against him. It has been described as “by far the most interesting example of prison literature the world has ever seen.”

The Consolation of Philosophy stands, by its note of fatalism and its affinities with the Christian doctrine of humility, midway between the heathen philosophy of Seneca the Younger and the later Christian philosophy of consolation represented by Thomas Aquinas.

The book is heavily influenced by Plato and his dialogues (as was Boethius himself). (Summary from Wikipedia) (5 hr 13 min)

Chapitres

Preface & Proem 7:21 Lu par Kirsten Ferreri
Bk1: Song I: Boethius' Complaint, and section I 4:58 Lu par Alex Patterson
Bk1: Song II: His Depondency, and section II 2:53 Lu par Alex Patterson
Bk 1: Song III: The Mists Dispelled, and section III 4:08 Lu par Ben Douglas
Bk 1: Song IV: Nothing Can Subdue Virtue, and section IV 16:21 Lu par David Barnes
Bk 1: Song V: Boethius' Prayer, and section V 6:26 Lu par Carl Manchester
Bk 1: Song VI: All Things Have Their Needful Order, and section VI 5:53 Lu par Carl Manchester
Bk 1: Song VII: The Perturbations of Passion 1:23 Lu par Hugh McGuire
Bk 2: Section I, and Song I: Fortune's Malice 6:18 Lu par Hugh McGuire
Bk 2: Section II, and Song II: Man's Covetousness 5:15 Lu par Hugh McGuire
Bk 2: Section III, and Song III: All Passes 5:41 Lu par Cori Samuel
Bk 2: Section IV, and Song IV: The Golden Mean 8:25 Lu par Kirsten Ferreri
Bk 2: Section V, and Song V: The Former Age 11:34 Lu par David Barnes
Bk 2: Section VI, and Song VI: Nero's Infamy 6:51 Lu par Mark Owen
Bk 2: Section VII, and Song VII: Glory May Not Last 7:09 Lu par Kirsten Ferreri
Bk 2: Section VIII, and Song VIII: Love Is Lord of All 3:40 Lu par Kirsten Ferreri
Bk 3: Section I, and Song I: The Thorns of Error 2:43 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 3: Section II, and Song II: The Bent of Nature 9:19 Lu par Gesine
Bk 3: Section III, and Song III: The Insatiableness of Avarice 5:21 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 3: Section IV, and Song IV: Disgrace of Honours Conferred by a Tyrant 4:28 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 3: Section V, and Song V: Self-Mastery 3:47 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 3: Section VI, and Song VI: True Nobility 3:15 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 3: Section VII, and Song VII: Pleasure's Sting 2:27 Lu par Maddie
Bk 3: Section VIII, and Song VIII: Human Folly 5:05 Lu par Maddie
Bk 3: Section IX, and Song IX: Invocation 12:07 Lu par Cyril Law, Jr.
Bk 3: Section X, and Song X: The True Light 13:43 Lu par Cyril Law, Jr.
Bk 3: Section XI, and Song XI: Reminiscence 9:56 Lu par Ben Douglas
Bk 3: Section XII, and Song XII: Orpheus and Eurydice 12:37 Lu par D.E. Wittkower
Bk 4: Section I, and Song I: The Soul's Flight 5:52 Lu par Cori Samuel
Bk 4: Section II, and Song II: The Bondage of Passion 10:49 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 4: Section III, and Song III: Circe's Cup 8:29 Lu par Susie G.
Bk 4: Section IV, and Song IV: The Unreasonableness of Hatred 14:01 Lu par Cori Samuel
Bk 4: Section V, and Song V: Wonder and Ignorance 4:05 Lu par David Barnes
Bk 4: Section VI, and Song VI: The Universal Aim 21:02 Lu par David Barnes
Bk 4: Section VII, and Song VII: The Hero's Path 5:21 Lu par Ben Douglas
Bk 5: Section I, and Song I: Chance 7:21 Lu par Andrew Miller
Bk 5: Section II, and Song II: The True Sun 3:12 Lu par hugh mac
Bk 5: Section III, and Song III: Truth's Paradoxes 11:04 Lu par Stan Still
Bk 5: Section IV, and Song IV: A Psychological Fallacy 10:49 Lu par ML Cohen
Bk 5: Section V, and Song V: The Upward Look 6:20 Lu par Mark Owen
Bk 5: Section VI & Epilogue 15:35 Lu par Cori Samuel

Critiques

this is a great book


(5 stars)

A great and very accessible book. I highly recommend.

My favorite piece of prison literature.


(5 stars)

Book is 5 stars, readers 4


(4.5 stars)

Some of the readers sound like they're almost whispering. I suppose that's not a problem if you're into ASMR, but I found it a bit annoying.


(2 stars)

Weak prose, all noise. Love god and wisdom. Saved you five hours.