Jan 17 2010
Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy
Written while B was on death row for plotting against King Theodoric, The Consolation of Philosophy was the self-help book of the Dark Ages, although reading it according to ecclesiastical authorities might make you into a pagan.
Here’s how it goes:
In this world Fortune reigns supreme, and no man should call himself truly happy who puts too much stock in the acquisition of material wealth and the accumulation of externals. Everything is in flux, and the happy man of today may find himself the bankrupted man of sorrow tomorrow. However, this mutability is both our tragedy and our hope, because nothing lasts forever and our conditions are always changing. So look to your soul (for it is eternal and therefore can be trusted) and read books (of “pagan” philosophy, but I doubt Boethius would mind if you occasionally slipped in an issue or two of The Green Lama), because before you know it King Theodoric’s men will drag you from your cell, tie your limbs to horses, and have you pulled to pieces because you made chit-chat with the Byzantines.
The End.
The Dark Ages: even their Chicken Soup for the Soul was hardcore.
For those of you who require audio-visual summaries here’s Christopher Eccelston's version from 24 Hour Party People:
Here’s how it goes:
In this world Fortune reigns supreme, and no man should call himself truly happy who puts too much stock in the acquisition of material wealth and the accumulation of externals. Everything is in flux, and the happy man of today may find himself the bankrupted man of sorrow tomorrow. However, this mutability is both our tragedy and our hope, because nothing lasts forever and our conditions are always changing. So look to your soul (for it is eternal and therefore can be trusted) and read books (of “pagan” philosophy, but I doubt Boethius would mind if you occasionally slipped in an issue or two of The Green Lama), because before you know it King Theodoric’s men will drag you from your cell, tie your limbs to horses, and have you pulled to pieces because you made chit-chat with the Byzantines.
The End.
The Dark Ages: even their Chicken Soup for the Soul was hardcore.
For those of you who require audio-visual summaries here’s Christopher Eccelston's version from 24 Hour Party People:
No responses yet