Boethius is depressed, understandably so since he has worked himself in a standing of political status and reputation as a man of principle, and yet he sits in prison facing execution by the same state he has championed.
Philosophy, once his closest ally, then points out to him the meaning of true happiness outside of that which we achieve as honors and possessions, which are temporary and undependable, as well as bestowed seemingly unfairly among both the good and bad. There too, Philosophy answers the question of why bad things happen to good people, which is exactly the question Boethius worries over.
In answering these, Philosophy has pointed out Providence and the Divine nature of God, which of course brings up the question of free will, which Philosophy has proven is necessary, and preordained Fate under an all-knowing God which would seem to be in conflict. This point was rather easily (to me, anyway) covered in Philosophy’s explanation of God foreseeing the changes that free will would inevitably bring. But two things came of this last argument that truly are worthy of note:
First, the notion of a God who is unfettered by time, who can see all as in the present. This is so foreign to our own knowledge (?) of past, present and future. But so much of that which seems incomprehensible does not mean that it cannot be–simply that we can’t relate to it. Think of television, especially live, and the images of that are flying instantly through miles of empty space to show up on your screen. And Philosophy’s description of a constant present made me think of a chart of life from zygote to infant, or a time lapse seen frame by frame all laid out in a collage. Not that impossible when you think of it in image form; why impossible in reality? Wouldn’t it be neat if this possibility is available to man not only to understand, but to enjoy, but merely beyond his current realm of knowledge?
The second point of particular interest was Philosophy’s words that I’ve already mentioned a couple of posts ago that hinted at existence prior to this life on earth as well as one beyond. I’m always looking for the reincarnation aspect, and this seemed to fit into it. Of course, I may have missed something within Consolation or in lacking the familiarity with prior writings that Philosophy may be basing this upon, that may point in an entirely different direction in meaning. But her words that something we knew before we took on the cloud of life may be remembered, beg further learning.
All in all, a thought provoking, reinspiring book. And, it’s calmed me down a lot.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology