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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Precursor of Medieval Scholasticism, July 23, 2001
By A Customer
This volume contains the five little Tractates (De Trinitate, Utrum Pater et Filius, Quomodo Substantiae, De Fide Catholica, and Contra Eutychen), plus the monumental "Consolation of Philosophy" written by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (A.D. 480-524) as he awaited his brutal execution. Most of the translation is the work of S.J. Tester, whose aim was "to produce throughout the volume a homogeneous rendering, reasonably literal, which would make philosophical sense." De Trinitate is a purely philosophical defense of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. The "Consolation" is considered the last example of purely literary Latin of ancient times; a mingling of alternate dialogue and poems.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From Stoicism to Scholasticism, May 28, 2005
"The last of the Romans and the first of the scholastics" is a term often used of Boethius, a Christian of the late 5th, early 6th centuries. In fact, similar appellations are used for Augustine, who lived a century earlier. I suppose it is fair to say that the period from Augustine to Boethius represents the transition from classical to medieval thinking, and for an appreciation of how European thought evolved, you need to make the acquaintance of both.
Boethius's most famous work is The Consolation of Philosophy. The tone and content of the work are distinctively Stoical. I have said in another review that Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" is Stoicism for monarchs, whereas "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A Kempis is Stoicism for monks. If so, then "Consolation" is Stoicism for martyrs. It has been argued that Stoicism formed the rational basis for the fledgling Christian theology and "Consolation" is strong evidence for that. So it is remarkable that the work, written by a Christian, makes no mention of Christianity. Boethius wanted to show (himself and his readers) that Reason alone, unaided by Faith could enable one to come to terms with the most dreadful suffering. Coming from a man who has lost status, wealth, everything, and is rotting in a prison cell, facing torture and death, it is an extraordinary achievement.
A believer in an omnipotent and omniscient god has a problem explaining the existence of free will. Actually, the atheist has just the same problem, reconciling determinism with free will. Boethius tackles the question head on, along with the related one of how evil can exist in a world designed by a god of perfect goodness. His is not the last word on these subjects -- nothing ever will be - but it is an indispensable contribution.
The Loeb Library edition includes some theological works by Boethius, to give a broader view of his thought, and has a parallel Latin text, which is nice to have even if, like me, your knowledge of the language is slight. Contrary to what the Amazon editorial suggests, the translation of "Consolation" in this edition is by SJ Tester. It is an accurate translation with a kind of taut elegance that is often more admirable than readable. If you want an authoritative edition of the works of Boethius, go with Loeb. If you want a more readable rendering of just the "Consolation", you may be better with another edition.
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11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"A Collection of Masterworks", January 19, 2002
Boethius was certainly a bright spot in the midst of a darkening world flooded by barbarians and intellectually on the decline. Boethius was among the few commentators and compilers of his age who endeavored to preserve the tenets of Greek Philosophy. His commentaries and translations of the original Greek texts of Aristotle were the only Latin translations known to the Western world until the renaissance and ultimately paved the way for Aquinas' "Summa Theologia." So, with this in mind, Boethius' works made a very significant impact upon the later scholastic philosophers, and to the whole of Catholic tradition as well. Italy, during Boethius' time, was under the rule of Theoderic the Ostrogoth, who unjustly imprisoned the statesman/philosopher, falsely accusing him of treason. While waiting for his execution, Boethius wrote his "Consolation of Philosophy." The book itself is among the masterpieces of all time, and the only thing as tragic as Boethius' untimely death is the fact that we were not able to obtain anymore works from this genius with the golden pen. Had he remained alive, it is very likely that we would have seen a sublime synthesis, in Latin, of Plato and Aristotle, not contradicting each other but complimenting one another. However, in short, this book is a small manifestation of what may have happened if he lived longer. What is interesting about this book is that it handles several different perspectives, namely that of the sorrowful Boethius and the consoling wisdom of Lady Philosophy, written both in eloquent prose and dazzling verse, which together ultimately culminates into a one of the most moving, inspiring, and thought provoking philosophical works of all time. The book is indefatigable, in that it never seems to quit opening new corridors of thought; and it is essential, because it is the philosopher's ideal breviary. It is interesting to note - and this is certainly not a negation to his Christian convictions - that while this Saint was awaiting his execution he remembered Athens, not Calvary. The other works contained in the volume are some minor Theological tractates: namely, "De Trinitate," "Utrem Pater Et Filius," "De Fide Catholica," "Quomodo Substanitiae," and "Contra Eutychen." While many individuals attempt to downplay Boethius' Christianity since "The Consolation" makes no direct mention of Christ, it nevertheless cannot be denied that many Christian elements underlay the theme of the work; and also it must be noted that when Boethius writes philosophy he is strictly writing philosophy and he writes theology he is strictly writing theology. Boethius is without a doubt the Christian Socrates.
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