Iris Murdoch is well-known for her moral philosophy, especially for the light it sheds on the inner life. This Element focuses on the political significance and contours of Murdoch's ethics. Its chief aim is to illuminate the affinities between Murdoch's concept of the individual and the Enlightenment ideal of a society in which people live together as free equals. There are five sections in this Element. Section 1 provides context for the discussion. Section 2 compares what Murdoch calls the liberal and naturalistic outlooks and argues that she develops a modified version of the naturalistic outlook to better support an Enlightenment sensibility. Sections 3 and 4 examine the three main features of Murdoch's 'naturalized' individual. Section 3 considers the individual's uniqueness and transcendence. Section 4 considers the individual's knowability through love. Section 5 offers some concluding remarks.
By:
Bridget Clarke (University of Montana) Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom ISBN:9781009358149 ISBN 10: 1009358146 Series:Elements on Women in the History of Philosophy Pages: 75 Publication Date:03 April 2025 Audience:
College/higher education
,
Further / Higher Education
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
1. The political significance of Murdoch's moral thought; 2. The individual and her background; 3. The unique and transcendent individual; 4. The individual revealed by love; 5. Concluding remarks; References.
