The Consolation of Philosophy
Ancius Boethius
524
October, 2023
10/10
(Victor Watts translation, revised edition)
Book 1, V's poem was a beautiful expression of corruption and a plea to God — embodying the theme of the classic question: why bad things happen to good people.
The end of book 1 contains the following quote which I believe highlights its "profound answer":
And it is because you don't know the end and purpose of things that you think the wicked and the criminal have power and happiness. And because you have forgotten the means by which the world is governed you believe these ups and downs of fortune happen haphazardly.
Similarly, book 2, V's poem expresses the beauty of simplicity — the section as a whole addresses that the problems which arise from the idea of wealth are caused only by wealth. I took the description of how hiding ugly things with beautiful things does not change the ugly thing's nature to allude to "hiding" one's own ugliness with outward beauty — wealth and beauty do not affect character.
Book 2 goes on to express the idea that misfortune is true fortune, for it does not conceal its nature. Whereas fortune is truly misfortune, as the loss of fortune steals away our false happiness. Misfortune's honesty makes us grow. It shows us what happiness really is.
Book 3 is a little dated. Obviously the references to Roman politics don't quite hold up. Similarly, the arguments were a little less powerful, to me, because of all the comparisons to God and "separateness" which entirely relies on the idea of God. Nevertheless, the ideas were still good — that good is happiness and vice versa and that we easily conflate happiness with other ideas which, in fact, are separate.
Book 4 continues this argument to claim that wicked people cannot be happy. They still want to be good, but selfishly, and are thus equated to lowly animals. Their pursuit of pleasure is their suffering. They will never know happiness so long as their wicked goals are achieved. But they are often "rewarded" regardless — while good people are "punished."
Boethius relies on the idea of God being truly good to point out that the punishing of good people can serve as an ultimately greater good. And it is no punishment in nature, only a lesson from which to grow. Similarly, the wicked, in being rewarded, are actually punished because the realization of their goals is only the furthering of their unhappiness.
It all relies on the concept of God which I find difficult to accept. But I do believe in something, whatever it is; even Boethius mentions that it must not necessarily be the God. Therefore, happiness is a choice. And making that choice is as simple as accepting that all is for a reason: the ultimate good. If we have souls, then all is good in nature.
Endless goodness would be meaningless. Endless suffering would be meaningless. There must be balance for either to have meaning. And if there is to be meaning, that meaning must be good. So we must be happy in knowing that all is for a good reason which is beyond our human comprehension. Woe is the atheist, but I suppose that's the whole point.
Book V ends on the note that the idea of an all-knowing God does not imply that we lack free will. Rather, God is capable of seeing everything at once — including all possibilities. So nothing is made "visible" or "fact" until it is done. Whereas all possible actions are already known — according to what is possible. Therefore, it is our will which brings to knowledge which possibility is fact.
I don't agree with everything Boethius says. Especially how all that he suggests relies on the belief in a god of some kind. However, the importance and impact of the book is in the fact that a happy life is a choice. The ability to accept that all things are for the greater good is a choice. The ability to find purpose and meaning in life is a choice. As easily as we can say that life is meaningless, we can just as much say that there is a plan for us. God or not, it is all simply a choice.
The book is in the vein of Nausea in that it provides a lens or a framework with which to perceive life and existence. This is fascinating, impressive, and lasting.
The fact that the book is written as a story only makes it all-the-greater. The delivery of Boethius' message is simply flawless, especially having read about the conditions which produced this book.
The Consolation of Philosophy exudes truth and wisdom. It truly is the consolation of philosophy.