Human beings turn to various modes in which to help themselves when they experience strong feelings of despondency. More often than not, humans turn towards distractions to help dull their suffering. In the isolation of his prison cell, Boethius finds the distraction he seeks in his personified rendering of philosophy, Lady Philosophy. She explains three main concepts to him which console and cause him to change his perspective on his current situation, that God is the good governor of the world and will protect that which he has created, how evil does not exist and has no power, and that bad fortune leads to the betterment of a person, while good fortune detracts from people’s morals.
The first way in which Lady Philosophy comforts Boethius …show more content…
The next way is proving that evil has no power or, is impotent, as well as that it does not exist. Despite Lady Philosophy’s best efforts, Boethius is still distressed at the end of Book Three and the beginning of Book Four. He cannot figure out how evil is so rampant throughout the world if God is all-powerful and good. Using the same style akin to the rest of the book, Lady Philosophy logically organizes her argument to prove her point: evil does not exist. She says that “evil is nothing, since God, who can do all things, cannot do evil” (Boethius 64), to which Boethius is forced to admit that she speaks truth because he has already affirmed her premise statements. Lady Philosophy also teaches Boethius that evil does not have power. She proves this saying “men become good by obtaining the good… so good men obtain what they desire… and evil men do not, it follows that good men have power but evil men are impotent” (Boethius 70). In the same manner as previously, Boethius is reassured that evil men have no power because he cannot disagree with Lady Philosophy has
The first way in which Lady Philosophy comforts Boethius …show more content…
The next way is proving that evil has no power or, is impotent, as well as that it does not exist. Despite Lady Philosophy’s best efforts, Boethius is still distressed at the end of Book Three and the beginning of Book Four. He cannot figure out how evil is so rampant throughout the world if God is all-powerful and good. Using the same style akin to the rest of the book, Lady Philosophy logically organizes her argument to prove her point: evil does not exist. She says that “evil is nothing, since God, who can do all things, cannot do evil” (Boethius 64), to which Boethius is forced to admit that she speaks truth because he has already affirmed her premise statements. Lady Philosophy also teaches Boethius that evil does not have power. She proves this saying “men become good by obtaining the good… so good men obtain what they desire… and evil men do not, it follows that good men have power but evil men are impotent” (Boethius 70). In the same manner as previously, Boethius is reassured that evil men have no power because he cannot disagree with Lady Philosophy has