DOWN (OR UP) TO THIS

BOETHIUS (476 - 526 A.D.) IN HIS "CONSOLATION OF PHILOSOPHY", EXPLORED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER HUMAN FREEDOM AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSE. ARE FREE WILL VS. PREDESTINATION RECONCILABLE? HISTORY HAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED CONFLICTS AND JUXTAPOSITIONS. DARWINISM VS. CREATIONISM. POWER VS. PRINCIPLE. PERCEPTION VS. REALITY. THE HEDONISM OF MEN WHO FACETIOUSLY SAY, "ARREST ME I'M HAVING TOO MUCH FUN," VS. THE HEDONISM OF MEN WHO HAVE NEVER LEARNED THE LIMITS OF FUN. ELITISM VS. POPULISM. URBAN VS. RURAL. TRUTH VS. FALSE AUTHORITY. ACADEMICS VS. ATHLETICS. GLOBAL COMPETITION VS. PROTECTIONISM. DEMOCRACY VS. COMMUNISM. FOIE GRAS (FATTY LIVER) VS. FAUX GRAS (FAKE LIVER). BARACK OBAMA VS. REASON. BUT HAS CIVILIZATION COME DOWN TO OR UP TO THE QC3 ON EAR VS. QC2 AROUND EAR HEADPHONES WITH "TOTAL (ACTIVE PLUS PASSIVE) VOICE REDUCTION BY BOSE?

FIFTEEN HUNDRED YEARS FOR WHAT? BOETHIUS' INVESTIGATION ASSUMED THE EXISTENCE OF GOD'S DIVINE GUIDING HAND VS. MAN'S ABILITY TO SHAPE AND DETERMINE HIS COURSE. THE BATTLE PERSISTS BETWEEN CONTINUOUS REDUCTION IN THOUGHT VS. INCREASED RELIANCE UPON NARCISSISM. IS THE CULMINATION OF ENLIGHTENMENT DUALING EAR PHONES?