Consolatio Philosophiae: The Consolation of Philosophy, Paperback

Consolatio Philosophiae is Boethius's conversation with Philosophy personified. Written while awaiting execution, he ponders the nature of morality, fate and free will. Writing as Philosophy, he memorably brings the metaphor of the wheel of fortune to medieval writers. "I turn the wheel that spins. I delight to see the high come down and the low ascend." This edition of Consolatio Philosophiae puts Boethius's original text and next to James's English translation together in one affordable book.

Boethius (ca. 480-524/5) was a Roman aristocrat, politician, writer and philosopher. His writings repackaged earlier works while looking forward to medieval thought and logic. He bridges antiquity to the Middle Ages and pagan philosophy to Christianity. He was put to death by order of King Theodoric, under whom he served as magister officiorum.