The Consolation of Philosophy

One of the most beloved works of the Middle Ages, The Consolation of Philosophy ranks among the most deeply experienced and profoundly reasoned explorations of the problem of evil ever penned.

Stricken by grief at his imprisonment by political enemies, the Roman statesman Boethius writes a mystical dialogue between himself and Lady Philosophy, who comes to console him by driving out his grief and reminding him of his own forgotten wisdom. In a great synthesis of Platonic philosophy read through the Christian tradition, Philosophy teaches Boethius to escape human vanity and its trust in worldly fortune by embracing the everlasting benevolence of divine Providence.

This new translation by Soren Filipski, PhD is faithful to the philosophical precision of Boethius’ prose and the elegant simplicity of his poetry. Historical notes with critical commentary clarify difficult passages to give the reader a direct and clear experience of Boethius’ thought and his enduring place in world literature.