In Ancient Greece and Rome, philosophers were seen as natural authorities on the most pressing questions. However, since then, the idea of finding wisdom from philosophy has come to seem bizarre. Enter a university department today and ask to study wisdom, and you will politely but firmly be shown the door. The Consolations of Philosophy sets out to refute the notion that good philosophy must be irrelevant and gathers together six great philosophers who were convinced of the power of philosophical insight to work a practical effect on our lives. Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche are studied for the light their work can shine on certain great universal problems ? poverty, inadequacy, lovelessness and so on. They stand as examples of the practical utility of philosophy.