Iris Murdochs Practical Metaphysics: A Guide to her Early Writings

This book explores Iris Murdoch as a philosopher who, through her distinctive methodology, exploits the advantages of having a mind on the borders of literature and politics in her early career writings (pre-The Sovereignty of Good). By focusing on a single decade of Murdochs early career, Jamieson tracks connections between her views on the state of literature and politics in postwar Britain and her approach to the philosophy of mind and moral philosophy. Furthermore, this close study reveals that, far from a stylistic quirk, Murdochs use of metaphors, analogies, and other literary devices is internal to her methodology. Finally, rather than asking what Murdochs views are, this work will ask what is Murdoch trying to achieve with her writings and public lectures, and how does she go about this? By answering the latter question, we will have a new strategy for interpreting her writings more generally.  The book contributes to the growing body of scholarship focusing on Iris Murdochs philosophical writings, and on women in the history of analytic philosophy.