Skip to content
The Consolation of Philosophy podcast artwork

The Consolation of Philosophy

by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius

Arts

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

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed May 13, 2024. Source feed.

Subscribe Bookmark

Episodes

  1. Preface & Proem

  2. Bk1: Song I: Boethius' Complaint, and section I

  3. Bk1: Song II: His Depondency, and section II

  4. Bk 1: Song III: The Mists Dispelled, and section III

  5. Bk 1: Song IV: Nothing Can Subdue Virtue, and section IV

  6. Bk 1: Song V: Boethius' Prayer, and section V

  7. Bk 1: Song VI: All Things Have Their Needful Order, and section VI

  8. Bk 1: Song VII: The Perturbations of Passion

  9. Bk 2: Section I, and Song I: Fortune's Malice

  10. Bk 2: Section II, and Song II: Man's Covetousness

  11. Bk 2: Section III, and Song III: All Passes

  12. Bk 2: Section IV, and Song IV: The Golden Mean

  13. Bk 2: Section V, and Song V: The Former Age

  14. Bk 2: Section VI, and Song VI: Nero's Infamy

  15. Bk 2: Section VII, and Song VII: Glory May Not Last

  16. Bk 2: Section VIII, and Song VIII: Love Is Lord of All

  17. Bk 3: Section I, and Song I: The Thorns of Error

  18. Bk 3: Section II, and Song II: The Bent of Nature

  19. Bk 3: Section III, and Song III: The Insatiableness of Avarice

  20. Bk 3: Section IV, and Song IV: Disgrace of Honours Conferred by a Tyrant

  21. Bk 3: Section V, and Song V: Self-Mastery

  22. Bk 3: Section VI, and Song VI: True Nobility

  23. Bk 3: Section VII, and Song VII: Pleasure's Sting

  24. Bk 3: Section VIII, and Song VIII: Human Folly

  25. Bk 3: Section IX, and Song IX: Invocation

  26. Bk 3: Section X, and Song X: The True Light

  27. Bk 3: Section XI, and Song XI: Reminiscence

  28. Bk 3: Section XII, and Song XII: Orpheus and Eurydice

  29. Bk 4: Section I, and Song I: The Soul's Flight

  30. Bk 4: Section II, and Song II: The Bondage of Passion

  31. Bk 4: Section III, and Song III: Circe's Cup

  32. Bk 4: Section IV, and Song IV: The Unreasonableness of Hatred

  33. Bk 4: Section V, and Song V: Wonder and Ignorance

  34. Bk 4: Section VI, and Song VI: The Universal Aim

  35. Bk 4: Section VII, and Song VII: The Hero's Path

  36. Bk 5: Section I, and Song I: Chance

  37. Bk 5: Section II, and Song II: The True Sun

  38. Bk 5: Section III, and Song III: Truth's Paradoxes

  39. Bk 5: Section IV, and Song IV: A Psychological Fallacy

  40. Bk 5: Section V, and Song V: The Upward Look

  41. Bk 5: Section VI & Epilogue

About this show

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

Hosted by

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius

Produced by Appletfab LLC

Categories

Arts

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does The Consolation of Philosophy have?

The Consolation of Philosophy has 41 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on March 23, 2007.

What is The Consolation of Philosophy about?

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...

Who hosts The Consolation of Philosophy?

The Consolation of Philosophy is created and hosted by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius.
Link copied