The Comedian
04-15-2010, 12:37 PM
Ignatius J. Reilly! Only a delusional, self-loathing (self-loving) semi-genius could love Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy. But maybe I'm putting too much critical mustard on this dog of a philosophical book. Maybe. Let's find out. I'd really like to know because I was hoping for a little philosophical "consolation" from this book.
. . . . . .
So I picked up this book abo. . . "What? Eeek!"
[The ghost of Ignatius suddenly appears.]
Ignatius: The wild inaccuracy of your statement roused my excessively heavy spirit from the sedation of Limbo to keep you from spreading slander most foul among this noble and blessed community of readers.
The Comedian: Holy listless Limbo! I had no idea that my catchy introduction could raise the spirit of the fictionally departed. But to your point. . . . it's true. I wanted to like The Consolation of Philosophy much more than I really did. I was hoping for more of plot, for the poor prisoner to put more of his situation into the text. But he didn't.
Ignatius: I'm afraid you miss the point, dear reader. The Consolation of Philosophy is not about the prisoner; it's about the shape and development of the philosophical tradition from the classical Greeks to the early Christian philosophers, especially St. Augustine and his Confessions.
I shudder to think of your assessment of the verse in Boethius's work. But I will ask it of you. The verse, you liked it. Yes?
The Comedian: Meh. I love the first poem -- the prisoner's attempt at making an elegy for himself that's so full of self-pity that it mocks the very genre. And some of the other poems I liked too, but, honesty, I skimmed over some of them because they seemed to just echo the arguments made in the prose sections.
But wait! Just talking with you helps me see something: for a long time poetry and philosophy were at odds, especially in the Platonic tradition of which Boethius participated. Here they are unified, part of a whole; as if there's been a. . .a. . .consolation.
And! And! The Consolation moves from classical arguments of fate, destiny, greed, and moral responsibility to the state to Medieval arguments about the nature of G-d. The work attempts to give Philosophy one unified voice. It's a peace offering. A gift from the departing to the living.
Ignatius Have a foot-long, my dear man! You now show a relish for this book that it so richly merits. My spirit is appeased. I will leave you now.
[The ghost of Ignatius fades into nothing.]
Well, that was interesting. I still didn't love the book. But I guess I can appreciate it better after my little talk Ignatius.
My rating?: 7.5/10 foot-long wieners.
. . . . . .
So I picked up this book abo. . . "What? Eeek!"
[The ghost of Ignatius suddenly appears.]
Ignatius: The wild inaccuracy of your statement roused my excessively heavy spirit from the sedation of Limbo to keep you from spreading slander most foul among this noble and blessed community of readers.
The Comedian: Holy listless Limbo! I had no idea that my catchy introduction could raise the spirit of the fictionally departed. But to your point. . . . it's true. I wanted to like The Consolation of Philosophy much more than I really did. I was hoping for more of plot, for the poor prisoner to put more of his situation into the text. But he didn't.
Ignatius: I'm afraid you miss the point, dear reader. The Consolation of Philosophy is not about the prisoner; it's about the shape and development of the philosophical tradition from the classical Greeks to the early Christian philosophers, especially St. Augustine and his Confessions.
I shudder to think of your assessment of the verse in Boethius's work. But I will ask it of you. The verse, you liked it. Yes?
The Comedian: Meh. I love the first poem -- the prisoner's attempt at making an elegy for himself that's so full of self-pity that it mocks the very genre. And some of the other poems I liked too, but, honesty, I skimmed over some of them because they seemed to just echo the arguments made in the prose sections.
But wait! Just talking with you helps me see something: for a long time poetry and philosophy were at odds, especially in the Platonic tradition of which Boethius participated. Here they are unified, part of a whole; as if there's been a. . .a. . .consolation.
And! And! The Consolation moves from classical arguments of fate, destiny, greed, and moral responsibility to the state to Medieval arguments about the nature of G-d. The work attempts to give Philosophy one unified voice. It's a peace offering. A gift from the departing to the living.
Ignatius Have a foot-long, my dear man! You now show a relish for this book that it so richly merits. My spirit is appeased. I will leave you now.
[The ghost of Ignatius fades into nothing.]
Well, that was interesting. I still didn't love the book. But I guess I can appreciate it better after my little talk Ignatius.
My rating?: 7.5/10 foot-long wieners.