[primeval patriot]

I had promised to post this for another FR member months ago. Better late than never.

I probably won't respond to any posts as I couldn't debate my way out of a wet paper bag.

If this is your cup of tea, enjoy.

[primeval patriot]

bump

[Valin]

Boethius? Why would anyone want to read anything about him? I mean he's just another dead white guy. What could he possibly have to say to us today? We'd all be better reading all the great Bantu philosophers. < /sarcasm>

[Dumb_Ox]

Although there is no evidence that he actually embraced the new faith, his writings are full of the tender and forbearing spirit that characterized the philosophy of Christianity.

I wasn't aware there was any debate on this. Boethius was widely regarded to have died an orthodox Christian martyr's death at the hands of the Arian Theodoric, for his efforts to reunite the churches. At the time of his birth, Christianity was hardly a "new faith," and indeed was only increasing its dominance of the Empire.

[A.J.Armitage]

Many thanks for posting this. Will the other parts be posted, or are we expected to actually take some initiative and get the rest ourselves? :-)

An observation: the only part that seemed "outdated" in any meaningful sense was the observation that fame cannot truly be called fame at all because it's necessarily local. This is no longer the case. Other than that, it defies those who claim that old thoughts no longer matter. Even there, often the things that have to be done to become famous around the world are immoral, degrading, buffoonish, or all three, and, as it says of those who hold office or other honors, "Their unworthiness is less conspicuous if they are not made famous." Just think of what Bill Clinton will be remembered for a hundred years from now, if he's remembered at all. Even here the point still holds.

[curmudgeonII]

Bump

[bourbon]

thanks for posting this. it's very interesting. I had heard of Boethius and known of his life story, but I had never read his works.

oddly enough, the first place I had ever heard of _The Consolation of Philosophy_ was in John Kennedy Toole's wonderful comic novel _A Confederacy of Dunces_. The protagonist in that novel, a New Orleans hot-dog vendor who fancies himself to be a great philosopher, hands out copies of Boethius' book to numerous people he believes are confused. If you or anyone else on this thread hasn't read this _ACofD_ you might want to. It's probably the funniest book I've ever read and a real scream for anyone with a background in philosophy or a good knowledge of New Orleans.

take care now....