In Boethius, Why Do The Wicked Prosper While The Virtuous Suffer?

     To further display that Polemarchus’ definition of justice gives a better account of the “good life” I put forth my own definition of the “good life”. I have come to conclude through the lessons life has taught me thus far that the “good life” is one composed of love and understanding. Love of one’s self because with this I can maintain a sound mind and body, but without it I cannot love others. Love of family because

In Augustine’s article “Virtue and the Human Soul,” happiness is discussed in great detail. What makes a man happy? How do we obtain this happiness and where does

Grief is defined as a type of emotional or mental suffering from a loss, sorrow, or regret (Dictionary.com, LLC, 2010). Grief affects people of all ages, races, and sexes around the world. Approximately, 36% of the world’s population does or has suffered from grief and only a mere 10% of these people will seek out help (Theravive, 2009). Once a person is suffering from grief it is important to receive treatment. All too often, people ignore grief resulting in deep depression, substance abuse, and other disorders (Theravive, 2009). Grief counseling is very common and can be very helpful to a person in need of assistance. Grief counseling provides the support, understanding, and

The theist, therefore, appears to be faced with a choice between a view which implies a kind of moral chaos and a life of moral immaturity, and one which belittles an Almighty God. One attempt to resolve this dilemma turns on the distinction

Grief counseling is a division of social work that involves the interpersonal aspect of the social worker’s role as expert in coping with death. In this paper I will define grief counseling and some ways to cope with loss. Next I will discuss the history and seven stages of grief. There are two main forms of grievers which are intuitive and instrumental. In addition there are four major types of grief which are acute, anticipatory, sudden and complicated. The helping process is explained as well as some disorders related to grief. A current trend for grievers is to seek involvement in programs such as the Canadian Cancer Society, Missing Children of Canada and Victim Services. These organizations provide counseling services and crisis

In Book II and III, Lady Philosophy comforts Boethius that he should not grieve the loss of his former fortune by explaining that gifts from Fortune are all temporal things and people should not seek happiness from these eternal things. Their conversation raises the discussion about happiness, that true happiness cannot be found in earthly good things because they are never truly good.

“There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." -- By the mere pleasure of God, I mean hissovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment.”

As shown by his writing, Hodge must be a powerful preacher. The book is structured like a series of sermons. Yet, while this works wonderfully in the pulpit, it does not inspire as well in print. The text requires several readings to understand fully the one message – the cross.

The most common effect of death in a family is known as grief. When we understand it better, it makes the process a little less daunting. We have to realize as humans, we are not alone. Everyone has lost someone they loved and it's a natural thing to deal with. There is no normal way of dealing with death. It doesn't have patterns or a set way of dealing with it.

In book III of The Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius establishes the fact that God is the world's helmsman, the divine reason, the supreme good, the origin of all things. He demonstrates that God is omnipotent and omniscient. Nothing more superior can even be conceived of. Through the concept of unity, through which things basically become good, Boethius shows that God and happiness are one, the divine goodness. He concludes, "God is the essence of happiness." (70)

In book III of The Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius establishes the fact that God is the world's helmsman, the divine reason, the supreme good, the origin of all things. He demonstrates that God is omnipotent and omniscient. Nothing more superior can even be conceived of. Through the concept of unity, through which things basically become good, Boethius shows that God and happiness are one, the divine goodness. He concludes, "God is the essence of happiness." (70)

Author explained in his sermon why God allows Tragedy and suffering in .... He said that God did not create suffering; mankind did. God gave us free will in order for us to truly love Him, but mankind decided to turn away from Him. When humans rebelled, sin entered the earth and corrupted nature and human morality. We are the ones who choose whether we sin or not, and that creates an effect resulting in a tragedy or a blessing.

In Book II, Lady Philosophy is continuing to gently lead Boethius to the cure for his sorrows. Book II is her “gentle” discussion of fortune, and how we esteem it as fickle. Her discussion is gentle in that she begins with rhetoric and music, though eventually moving toward direct argument/proposition. When delving into the more "harsh" treatment, Lady Philosophy persists in reminding Boethius of what gifts he has: his adoptive father, his wife, his sons, etc. She advises Boethius that bad fortune is actually even better than only knowing good fortune, for only if we know the bad, can we fully understand and appreciate the good. Overall, she does not feel Boethius should complain about losing his good fortune, for she does not believe in any positive effects of good fortune. In fact, she finds misfortune to be better. For instance, bad fortune reveals Boethius' true friends.

In the Euthydemus (which was written by Plato in B.C. 384), Socrates presents an argument as to what happiness is. Socrates is concerned with establishing two main points:

In this essay I will outline the main theoretical models relating to loss and grief.