Ideas from 'The Sovereignty of Good' by Iris Murdoch [1970], by Theme Structure

[found in 'The Sovereignty of Good' by Murdoch,Iris [RKP 1974,0-7100-6952-9]].

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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy
An unexamined life can be virtuous
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / d. Philosophy as puzzles
Philosophy must keep returning to the beginning
1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 3. Metaphysical Systems
Philosophy moves continually between elaborate theories and the obvious facts
21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 8. The Arts / b. Literature
Literature is the most important aspect of culture, because it teaches understanding of living
21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality
Appreciating beauty in art or nature opens up the good life, by restricting selfishness
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love
Love is a central concept in morals
Ordinary human love is good evidence of transcendent goodness
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / c. Particularism
If I attend properly I will have no choices
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / d. Teaching virtue
Art trains us in the love of virtue
It is hard to learn goodness from others, because their virtues are part of their personal history
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / j. Unity of virtue
Moral reflection and experience gradually reveals unity in the moral world
Only trivial virtues can be possessed on their own
23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 7. Existential Action
Only a philosopher might think choices create values
Kantian existentialists care greatly for reasons for action, whereas Surrealists care nothing
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / c. God is the good
Moral philosophy needs a central concept with all the traditional attributes of God