The Consolation of Philosophy

by Boethius · Free audiobook · 41 chapters

LibriVox recording of The Consolation of Philosphy by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, translated by H.R. James, in the public domain. The LibriVox catalog page for this work lists the LibriVox readers. Consolation of Philosophy (Latin: Consolatio Philosophiae) is a philosophical work by Boethius written in about the year 524 AD. It has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West in medieval and early Renaissance Christianity, and is also the last great work that can be called Classical. Consolation of Philosophy was written during Boethius' one year imprisonment while awaiting trial, and eventual horrific execution, for the crime of treason by Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great. Boethius was at the very heights of power in Rome and was brought down by treachery. It was from this experience he was inspired to write a philosophical book from prison reflecting on how a lord's favor could change so quickly and why friends would turn against him. It has been described as 'by far the most interesting example of prison literature the world has ever seen.' The Consolation of Philosophy stands, by its note of fatalism and its affinities with the Christian doctrine of humility, midway between the heathen philosophy of Seneca the Younger and the later Christian philosophy of consolation represented by Thomas Aquinas. - The book is heavily influenced by Plato and his dialogues (as was Boethius himself). (Summary from Wikipedia) For more information on LibriVox, or to volunteer, please see: http://librivox.org/ Download M4B (144MB)

Chapters

• 1. 01 - Preface and Proem7:21
• 2. 02 - Book I, Song I: Boethius' Complaint, and section I4:58
• 3. 03 - Book I, Song II: His Depondency, and section II2:53
• 4. 04 - Book I, Song III: The Mists Dispelled, and section III4:08
• 5. 05 - Book I, Song IV: Nothing Can Subdue Virtue, and section IV16:21
• 6. 06 - Book I, Song V: Boethius' Prayer, and Section V6:26
• 7. 07 - Book I, Song VI: All Things Have Their Needful Order, and Section VI5:53
• 8. 08 - Book I, Song VII: The Perturbations of Passion1:23
• 9. 09 - Book II, Section I, and Song I: Fortune's Malice6:18
• 10. 10 - Book II, Section II, and Song II: Man's Covetousness5:15
• 11. 11 - Book II, Section III, and Song III: All Passes5:41
• 12. 12 - Book II, Section IV, and Song IV: The Golden Mean8:25
• 13. 13 - Book II: Section V, and Song V: The Former Age11:34
• 14. 14 - Book II, Section VI, and Song VI: Nero's Infamy6:51
• 15. 15 - Book II Section VII, and Song VII: Glory May Not Last7:09
• 16. 16 - Book II Section VIII, and Song VIII: Love Is Lord of All3:40
• 17. 17 - Book III, Section I, and Song I: The Thorns of Error2:43
• 18. 18 - Book III, Section II, and Song II: The Bent of Nature9:19
• 19. 19 - Book III, Section III, and Song III: The Insatiableness of Avarice5:21
• 20. 20 - Book III, Section IV, and Song IV: Disgrace of Honours Conferred by a Tyrant4:28
• 21. 21 - Book III, Section V, and Song V: Self-Mastery3:47
• 22. 22 - Book III, Section VI, and Song VI: True Nobility3:15
• 23. 23 - Book III, Song VII: Pleasure's Sting, and section VII2:27
• 24. 24 - Book III, Song VIII: Human Folly, and section VIII5:05
• 25. 25 - Book III, section IX, Song IX: Invocation12:07
• 26. 26 - Book III: Section X, and Song X: The True Light13:43
• 27. 27 - Book III, Section XI, and Song XI: Reminiscense9:56
• 28. 28 - Book III, Section XII, and Song XII: Orpheus and Eurydice12:37
• 29. 29 - Book IV, Section I, and Song I: The Soul's Flight5:52
• 30. 30 - Book IV, Section II, and Song II: The Bondage of Passion10:49
• 31. 31 - Book IV, Section III, and Song III: Circe's Cup8:29
• 32. 32 - Book IV, Section IV, and Song IV: The Unreasonableness of Hatred14:01
• 33. 33 - Book IV, Section V, and Song V: Wonder and Ignorance4:05
• 34. 34 - Book IV, Section VI, and Song VI: The Universal Aim21:02
• 35. 35 - Book IV, Section VII, and Song VII: The Hero's Path5:21
• 36. 36 - Book V, Section I, and Song I: Chance7:21
• 37. 37 - Book V, Section II, and Song II: The True Sun3:12
• 38. 38 - Book V, Section III, and Song III: Truth's Paradoxes11:04
• 39. 39 - Book V, Section IV, and Song IV: A Psychological Fallacy10:50
• 40. 40 - Book V: Section V, and Song V: The Upward Look6:20
• 41. 41 - Book V, Section VI and Epilogue15:35