The True and the False ‘I’ in Boethius’ De consolatione

Abstract

Much has been said and written on the structure of Boethius’ De consolatione philosophiae1. It has been described as a foremost example of antique philosophical consolatory literature and as a brilliant specimen of Menippean form although without its satirical spirit2, yet over and above that, its content assumes a structure of its own, which finds itself inscribed in the more conventional framework of philosophical consolation. This inner structure is the structure of meditation, of a spiritual journey from appearances into the depths of the truth of human condition. Boethius the narrator declares that having engaged in sombre musings about his own woeful fate while being alone in prison3, he decided to write down his complaints, expecting thus to find some relief from his despair. Yet as he embarked on his project, it turned out that far beyond bringing him mere relief and consolation, the reflections he had undertaken proved in fact to be a passage from a false, unauthentic form of existence and from estranged consciousness, to the full, authentic form of being and to true consciousness. This sort of meditation, which brings about profound changes in the outlook and self consciousness of a self is well known in the tradition of ancient Platonism and Neoplatonism (...)