The Consolations of Philosophy

itself and that has plagued the human mind for many centuries is if we are truly capable of free will. In order to solve this conundrum we must first know what free will truly is and how it is relevant in everyday life. Boethius’s work, The Consolation of Philosophy describes what free will is and the concepts that back the idea of free will itself. From what I gained from the reading Boethius views freedom as being able to determine things for oneself. That if ones actions are predetermined…

The so called “press”, as it once was known as, no longer exists today in the same capacity. “The press” refers to the information gained from newspapers, for it was printed on the printing press. However, since today we gather information from so many different sources that it does not make sense to call it simply “the press” anymore. News and journalists are all a part of the collective body known as “the media”. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the media is embodied by “the means of…

Everything that is said, worn, bought, eaten, and even drank by a celebrity, influences an enormous amount of individuals to follow exactly what is being done. The question is why? Why do everyday individuals feel the need to copy and mimic those who strive tremendously in the superstar category? The answer to that is simple, insecurity. Ordinary people, such as myself, encounter uncertainties and doubts about one self. We each undergo a tornado of what ifs; what if this looks weird on me,…

weaker of the two. Throughout history men and woman alike have sought for one thing in particular, power. Power is often the reason for war, feuds, and disagreements, but one must question exactly what power is. In Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, Lady Philosophy says that power is the strength to resist temptation and evil. If this is so, then evil, in itself, is weak. Evil does not have the self-control against things of this world. Those who are evil do not see the end goal;…

characters a put into a variety of situations. In each of these situations, the characters are forced to make moral decisions. What determines how people will react to these situations is what they think will bring them true happiness. In The Consolation of Philosophy, Lady Philosophy’s arguments about the pursuit of happiness help to prove that humans in general are naturally virtuous, but in some cases people act to achieve false happiness. The Joker is convinced that people only act with…

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, a Roman scholar and philosopher, was born towards the end of fifth century. He was famous for his Consolation of Philosophy, in which he writes about achieving happiness through desire for knowledge and love for God. (Encyclopædia Britannica) In the selection provided, Boethius writes that he is no longer inspired to write happy poems, rather his old age has him express unhappiness in his writing. He writes death enjoys coming to those who are happy and…

his soul, and how honorable it is for a person to strike in excellence for God. The way in which Boethius wonders about evil people, and the way in which Duke Theseus sees wicked people are again very similar between them. Boethius is answered by Philosophy about good and wicked people, and Theseus understands himself the difference that being wicked makes. He, in fact, knows that a person would deprive himself of his soul, should he or she decide to go against God’s rules. Boethius, on the…

remain in history. This election was so significant that this historical event was the first election in history that a government gave its power to the popular election. This election would forever eliminate the limits under the government political philosophy of the Democratic Party. Thomas Jefferson used the Inauguration Address to patch up what had been separated caused by his not so good election in the 1800s. In his address he tries to relay his ideas of trying to find a way to connect…

truth around it. The dialogue consists of four characters; Pamphilus, Cleanthes, Demea, and Philo. They unwrap and challenge each other’s thoughts of religion and God during the enlightenment era. The first character Pamphilus is a student of philosophy who is observing the conversation between Demea, Cleanthes, and Philo. His education and how it should be composed is the start of the argument. Throughout the discussion Pamphilus observes and provides his opinion at the end. In the begging…

As I read Peter Abelard’s “A Letter of Consolation to a Friend” (1132), I was able to draw from it that Abelard (1079-1142) was a Christian man who had faith in God (and the Holy Trinity), but did not possess humility as a fundamental characteristic of a believer of Christ. Abelard was a man who was given the talent of philosophy and scriptural studies. His ability to articulate his ideas, share his knowledge, and devote himself to these subjects played a large role in his success. He naturally…