CIV midterm 1

Fortune’s Wheel

Symbolizes the unpredictability of fate in Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy.

Providence vs. Fate

Providence is divine foreknowledge; fate is its unfolding in time.

The Highest Good

True happiness comes from within, not external goods.

The Problem of Evil

Explores why bad things happen to good people.

True vs. False Happiness

Wealth, power, and fame are considered illusions of happiness.

Boethius

The protagonist of Consolation of Philosophy, unjustly imprisoned, seeking wisdom.

Lady Philosophy

The personification of wisdom guiding Boethius through his trials.

Satisfaction Theory of Atonement

Anselm's argument that Christ’s death was necessary to satisfy divine justice.

Sin as an Infinite Offense

The idea that sin dishonors God infinitely, requiring infinite payment.

Divine Justice

Refers to God's moral order that requires satisfaction for sin.

Contrapasso

The idea in Dante's Inferno that punishments fit the sins committed.

Divine Kingship

The concept of Charlemagne as God’s chosen ruler.

Miracle Stories

Supernatural events that reinforce Charlemagne’s divine favor.

Moral Growth & Free Will

The idea that souls must actively purify themselves in Purgatory.

The Seven Terraces of Purgatory

Each terrace purges one of the seven deadly sins.

Divine Light

Symbolizes truth, wisdom, and God’s presence in Dante’s Paradiso.

The Beatific Vision

Dante’s final vision of God beyond human description.

The Impermanence of Earthly Goods

The concept that external success is fleeting.

Justice in the Universe

The belief that the wicked are actually powerless.

The Role of Free Will

The philosophical idea that sinners are in Hell by their own choices.

Lady Philosophy

A guiding figure in Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy, representing wisdom.

The Circle of Treachery

The lowest circle in Dante's Inferno, where the worst traitors are punished.

The Necessity of the Incarnation

The concept that only God could provide sufficient satisfaction for sin.

The Earthly Paradise

The Garden of Eden in Dante’s Purgatorio, where souls are purified.

The Siren

An allegory of deceptive earthly pleasures in Dante’s Purgatorio.

Alcuin of York

A scholar who aided Charlemagne in promoting learning.

The Talking Elephant

A legendary gift to Charlemagne from the Caliph of Baghdad.

The Importance of Humility

A central virtue in Purgatory emphasized in Dante’s works.

Evil as a Lack of Good

The philosophical position describes evil as the absence of goodness.