Boethius and the Consolation of Philosophy

Today in this lecture for East and West Learning Connections, I will talk about who Boethius was and why his book The Consolation of Philosophy was important in European literature. In this book Lady Philosophy attempts to console Boethius by teaching him that philosophy is more useful than the ephemeral pleasures of poetry or song. If Boethius can grasp that the universe is perfectly ordered and that all things happen for a reason (due to the divine order of things) then he will no longer be unhappy. As part of her instruction, meanwhile, Lady Philosophy uses literary imagery to convey the richness of our troubled minds and our struggles in the world.

East and West Learning Connections lectures and meetings are a great way for newcomers to Canada to learn about Canadian culture and practice their English.

[34 mins]