Iris Murdoch argued that morality is objective and can be recognized as a fact, not a matter of personal preference.
Murdoch's novels showcased characters struggling to see the world as it really is, emphasizing the importance of overcoming personal biases and desires.
Iris Murdoch's exploration of complex themes such as mental health, moral guidance, and the limitations of human perception in her philosophy and novels remains relevant today.
Deep dives
The Philosophy of Iris Murdoch
Iris Murdoch's philosophy explored the objective nature of morality, arguing that it was not subjective, but a fact that could be recognized. She emphasized the importance of seeing the world as it really is, free from personal desires and biases. Her novels often featured characters struggling to attain this enlightened perspective, with themes of obsession, guilt, and remorse being central. Murdoch's philosophy and novels tackled complex topics like mental health, morality, and the limitations of human perception. Her ideas on gender fluidity, love, and the role of art in portraying the realities of life remain relevant in the 21st century.
The Influence of Murdoch's Letters
Iris Murdoch's letters served as tools for her writing and reflected her deep interest in understanding what made people tick. They provided insight into her personal communication, relationships, and offered a raw material for her characters and novels. The letters showcased Murdoch's ability to grasp the complexities of human nature, as she often transformed her own experiences through her imagination when creating characters. The themes of morality and the struggle to see the world accurately were apparent in her letters, serving as inspiration for her novels.
Exploring the Novels of Iris Murdoch
Iris Murdoch's novels displayed a unique storytelling style, often punctuated with comedy and a focus on the inner lives of her characters. Her works addressed a wide range of themes, including mental health, dysfunctional families, remorse and guilt, obsession, and gender fluidity. Murdoch's ability to portray complex relationships and tackle philosophical ideas through lyrical language made her novels engaging and thought-provoking. Her exploration of morality, goodness, and the struggles of the human ego resonates with readers in the 21st century.
The Intersection of Philosophy and Literature
While Murdoch distinguished her novels from her philosophy, her ideas on morality and perception permeated both. Her philosophy emphasized the importance of love, the pursuit of goodness, and breaking away from the constraints of the ego. Her novels often conveyed these ideas through vivid characters and thought-provoking narratives. Murdoch's approach to philosophy, which sought to make readers morally better, resonates with self-help literature. Her legacy challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of the world and the motivations behind their beliefs and actions.
Murdoch's Concerns: Mental Health and Reflections on Faith
In her works, Iris Murdoch explored mental health issues, often delving into themes of depression, suicide, and the human psyche. She depicted characters grappling with self-doubt, guilt, and the conflicting desires of the ego. Murdoch's concern for declining religious faith and the search for moral guidance also surfaced in her novels. She questioned where people would turn for solace and guidance without traditional religious frameworks and sought alternatives in forms like Buddhism. Her works offered a reflection on the complexities of faith, morality, and the human condition.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the author and philosopher Iris Murdoch (1919 - 1999). In her lifetime she was most celebrated for her novels such as The Bell and The Black Prince, but these are now sharing the spotlight with her philosophy. Responding to the horrors of the Second World War, she argued that morality was not subjective or a matter of taste, as many of her contemporaries held, but was objective, and good was a fact we could recognize. To tell good from bad, though, we would need to see the world as it really is, not as we want to see it, and her novels are full of characters who are not yet enlightened enough to do that.
With
Anil Gomes
Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at Trinity College, University of Oxford
Anne Rowe
Visiting Professor at the University of Chichester and Emeritus Research Fellow with the Iris Murdoch Archive Project at Kingston University
And
Miles Leeson
Director of the Iris Murdoch Research Centre and Reader in English Literature at the University of Chichester
Producer: Simon Tillotson
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