Book Review - The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

Translated by Victor Watts

Writing shortly before his death in 524 AD, Boethius summarized his worldview that integrated the classics and Christianity. In this dialog between a prisoner on death row (himself) and an old woman who embodied  the wisdom of Philosophy, they discuss five main themes.

I.          Why do the wicked enjoy power and happiness while the righteous suffer for crimes they are innocent of?

II.       What are the true blessings of fortune?

III.    How can power, fame, wealth compete with the good of knowing God in bringing true happiness?

IV.    How does God use what appears to be fate or fortune to train the good and (ultimately)  punish the wicked?

V.       How can we reconcile man having free will with God’s foreknowledge?

Boethius is not explicitly Christian in his philosophic discourses - no references to Jesus or the New Testament. History reports that he was a believer. He has philosophy say nothing inconsistent with Christian beliefs, but the content deals rather with how to reconcile a transcendent, loving, and holy God with life in this world as we experience.  The philosophical answers make sense from this perspective. There are many deep thoughts, such as trying to explain what God being eternal means, and why we can’t fully comprehend this from our perspective living in a space-time continuum. Discussion of how God uses tribulation to form and discipline His children follows biblical precepts from both old and new testaments. (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:4-11)

Boethius was struggling with his imminent execution for crimes of which he was innocent. His consolation was that he was innocent and that he was true to his character of being good, and that God, who is good, sees and knows all. But for a man on death row this seems incomplete, without mentioning the redemption and eternal life that Jesus promised those who trust Him. What follows death in this life is not only promised, but demonstrated with power in the resurrection of Christ. On this issue, theology trumps philosophy because it is based on real, miraculous (supernatural) events, not just logic and reason based on precepts. And eternal life is offered to anyone, not just a consolation offered to a philosopher. The problems that Boethius struggled with are real problems, but they are resolved by the cross, not the philosophers’ discourse.