Iris Murdoch on Philosophy and Literature: Section 1

[alexasmithy]

Very enjoyable thank you

[prchecker]

Very enjoyable thank you

[iLOVENATURE2011]

very informative video,,,thanks to iris murdoch... =)

[indiebandit1]

wow I wish there was more intellectual discussion going on these days. This is remarkably fascinating

[jimbopumbapigsticks]

Aristotle may have been a good writer - we only have his lecture notes.

[Anglican08]

@jimbopumbapigsticks Yes, Copleston made that point, we only have Plato's popular works & not his lectures, the opposite is true for Aristotle.

[jimbopumbapigsticks]

@Anglican08 Given that Cicero called his writing style a "river of gold", I'd say he was probably a great writer.

[monikagwerder]

Thank you so much for uploading this! It is wonderful to hear her voice! When I was a teenager I read all her books; Iris Murdoch introduced me to..well, almost everything through her fiction; philosophy, the idea of contingency, love, the classics,..She has been such a major figure in my life, and yet I never heard her beautiful voice or watched her beautiful and kind demeanor until now. It means so much to me! Thank you

[oldmanhegel]

@SteveJobsWorth He couldn't wrong to save his life either!

[NowMyPoundsHaveRunOu]

rumour has it that after a busy day picking holes in Satre, la Murdoch would often steal away to what some might call, a dungeon, where she almost certainly spent a night shaking her bootie in tune, or otherwise, to a variety of beat combos, i.e. the Chieftains

[pumitaproductions]

philosophy seems pretty useless to me because i'm going to forget it when i die anyway :) why do people try to understand something thats so beautiful and full of energy? why can't you just feel the joy and be satisfied with that.

[GeorgesBarras]

@pumitaproductions Becasue not everyone can be satisifed living in ignorance. And if everyone preceding you took this view, you would not have the beauty you now enjoy.

[pumitaproductions]

@GeorgesBarras beauty of being? you think there needed to be philosophers to pave the way for me to sit empty minded in a nature and just be? lol.. poor dude

[GeorgesBarras]

@pumitaproductions No, philosophy paves the way for quite the opposite. By all means enjoy sitting empty minded, some of us simply need to satisfy an innate curiosity. My comment also refers to more practical results from mental endeavor: medicine, democratic society, recorded music, the printed word.

[pumitaproductions]

@GeorgesBarras i dont find any of that stuff anymore beautiful than a leave. quite frankly, if i wasn't so attached to modern medicine and technology, i would leave to somewhere where i can actually live what its like for a real human to live. somewhere natural, a tribe maybe. the natural state of consciousness is spiritually fulfilling. all this medicine and technology is what makes us suffer, by breaking the natural state.

[GeorgesBarras]

@pumitaproductions Each to their own, I can sympathise with a certain desire for the primitive. But the 'natural state', as you put it, would not be a pleasant condition, or indeed one with any longevity.

[pumitaproductions]

@GeorgesBarras it may be unpleasant at times, but its a state which brings about tremendous child-like joy and unity with the universe. there are moments when i've felt this natural joy and i realize this is what is taken away from us when we're conditioned by society... egos... etc. we lose compassion and our sense of identity (our true, natural identity is the universe)

[xHarry2112x]

@pumitaproductions To answer that, we'd have to do philosophy! A simple answer is that understanding lends greater appreciation. As Flaubert said, stupidity is the only form of immorality. Greater understanding of yourself and reality fosters compassion. Suppose a man enjoys eating a hamburger. He doesn't question what he enjoys and why. If he did, he might come to the conclusion that the cows suffer disproportional to his joy, that his joy is immoral. Ethics is just a branch of philosophy.

[kotkotando]

flame0430 thank you so much !

[DrunkOnPoppySeeds]

£9,000 a year to pay to have someone like her teach your children so they end up in the nasty party along with Cameron and Boris and the rest of the shabby shit that rule your lives now as ever........roll up, roll up...

[DrunkOnPoppySeeds]

thank God Aristotle was a difficult to read according to him upstairs. I tried to plough my way through the Nichomachean Ethics but hit an impasse, with my plough

[Hobgoblin93ZZZ]

Hmm, Makes me wonder what Iris' view of Alexander Mcall Smiths Novels, the philosophy in the 'Sunday Philosophy Club' series works very well into the novels.

[swetiigirly8879]

hahà_lêÙtÊ_sùcht_mAl_NÅch:_oli­kohle_âüf_gÕØglè_vÖll_gÊìl

[chemie387]

Has anyone read any of her book? "The black Prince"? Genious!

[SunamiJane]

philosophy is intellectual navel gazing. I'm a determinist nowadays so it's 'lean back and enjoy the ride' for me nowadays again

[vividDC]

If you are interested in philosophy, check out this site I found that is dedicated to finding, defining and spreading the truth of life. Search "Truth Contest" in Google and click the 1st result, then open The Present and read what it says. Show it to everyone who you think would be interested.

[krasnyploshad3]

yes, she nailed writing and doing philosophy,

but never quite got the look just right

[TooTanya22]

one said one did one is one self aahhh shit...

[AndrewStergiou]

sorry button did not work

[AndrewStergiou]

Intelligent speaking but narrow in a scope of culture which remains throughout unclear literature of all types are literature the questions were not posed well and did little good bi great view expressed here in any case western civilization not know for honesty changes the rules as they like.

[AndrewStergiou]

Intelligent speaking but narrow in a scope of culture which remains throughout unclear literature of all types are literature the questions were not posed well and did little good bi great view expressed here in any case western civilization not know for honesty changes the rules as they like.

[bahramf]

Philosophy can still be a branch of literature if not all philosophers are great writers. Not all novelists are great writers as such, either.

[bahramf]

Is Plato really an outstanding example of a great literary artist? 

[hoturtu87]

I am at an existential crossroad. Should I go deeper into philosophy? What is philosophies end. Structures of meaning, signs and symbols.A map of the subconscious mind. Or is imagination more powerful than knowledge? Should all minds be structured alike or should each individual apprehend the unknown with a mind that's free of dogma and cultural superstition.Maybe humanities lack of knowledge is humanities best attribute. So, should philosophy conceal more than it reveals?

[HolyFerdinand]

she looks like a turtle.

[Steve2323ZX]

Kate Winslet looks nothing like her

[jimbopumbapigsticks]

Aristotle a bad writer . . . what the hell is Magee on about? River of gold, and all that.

[bahramf]

@jimbopumbapigsticks He was horrible.

[67675656565655656565]

i heard she had a relationship with tinky winky hence the reason why he is now gay thank you iris

[Burncourtable]

In 1998, not long after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Iris Murdoch disconcerted friends by asking, "Who am I?", a question she almost at once answered herself, "Well I'm Irish anyway, that's something." As the mind of the brilliant novelist and philosopher faded, she still clung to a deep identification with Ireland. Her Irish connection was reflected in a lifetime's intellectual and emotional engagement and - before her illness

[Israe5l]

The second video is far more powerful. I might say its the deepest philosophy video I have seen.

[SuperKare123]

who are the writer's he metioned??????

[beholdmyswarthyface0]

Wonderful. Thanks for posting. She looks a bit like Hegel.

[artistsandbox]

"cheering oneself up by giving form to something" -- I like that line

[rchlboyd]

Thank you for posting this.

[milka0010]

impressive sharp mind!

[daheikkinen]

Actually Aristotle had a much more important impact on modern life than Plato. Apple and microsoft, for instance, stems from Aristotle's divisions and categories. As does genetics. If Aristotle is the IPad, Plato is the Bible. Although I'd rather read Plato.

[eddrebrab]

I agree, but Murdoch and Magee were talking about the problems of philosophy, which Plato elaborated thus setting the agenda for philosophical discourse down the centuries - and that is the context in which Aristotle had such an inestimable influence. There is an extent, I think, to which Aristotle could not have had that influence had not Plato first delimited the territory.

[flipperboy]

hey man give Plato some credit, he wasent that inconsistent and close minded

[stephengnelson]

@daheikkinen

you're an idiot.

and iris murdoch is just a frumpy, disgruntled boshie dyke.

[ClassicMovieClub]

thank u very much we are doing philosphy for a literature module at the moment and having someone like Iris talking about it - it makes it so intresting I could listin to this for hours

[taxmonkey123]

Intellectual masturbation at its finest!

[CecilTheSeaMonster]

my life was going great, then all of a sudden I wake up in a bathtub full of ice in some cheap motel room, & my left kidney is missing...

[ThedmoPink]

Iris Murdoch is phenomenal!

[doggiestyle247]

she reminds me of conan o brien...or i just miss him too much...

[dantean]

Uhhhh...it's the latter.

[jasperdrak]

how dated is this? - not just the clobber! a cursory glance at barthes or derrida destroys the pointless binary that they are trying to construct here. what a load of balls! :)

[zaynzaynzayn]

good point.

[dantean]

The continentals HAD 2 insist the bad romantic poetry they pawn off as philosophizing is not 2 be held to a truth standard b/c of language's 4ever obscuring access 2 any "real" world as cover for not understanding the world. Heidegger can then miss that nazism is bad & Sartre the same w respect to communism. I don't care 2 read the analytics either but inuslting them as behind the curve compared 2 existentialists, phenomenologists, post/structuralists, & decons is ludicrous. Paul de Man anyone?

[jasperdrak]

well, i hate to move the discussion into metaphysics, BUT, have you seen her trying to have a chat with krishnamurti? eek. she seems to have 'issues' primarily based on guilt and shame and thinks there is a method that redeems this! poor iris...

[MrManFig]

@jasperdrak

and a course in philosophy in any serious department would show you that Derrida isn't even considered worth mentioning.

[MrSeanMDickinson]

I'd love to find that couch!

[Hozms]

Literature influences Philosophy and vice versa. GOSH.

[jusacouplaquarters]

Boy, she looks like she's ready to stab him.

[goblue10nis]

I hated reading her!

[marcellosartfactory]

Like literature? Then be sure to visit our YouTube page! We are from Marcello's Art Factory, a Dutch art gallery that specializes in all forms of art, literature, drawings, paintings. You name it, we've done it! Be sure to check out our videos!

[spikearchie]

this is lovely.....

[emmajeanaudrey]

you know, actually she looks and talks a bit as if Stephen fry would impersonate her... (i like her, so don't hate me for this)^^

[tidalriddle]

Love it. And the outfit's great too.

[lm8103]

It's quite hard to focus on what she says because she's such a boring interlocutor. What a big load of wank.

[hampus80]

Today - on July 15, 2009: Congratulations Iris! You, as it were, still alive through this video clip... Thanks for this "still being alive"! (My name: Marianne)

[showboatingbastard]

that's one lady with just a little too much to say for herself.

[archdeaconj]

She's being interviewed, stupid!

[BCamus772]

Wonderful discussion. Love Iris!

[doridora]

if he didnt have this glasses he would look like Thomas Bernhard

[Upfront24]

literchure

[lagirasole]

Can anybody tell me when this program was broadcast on TV? I'm writing a dissertation on Iris Murdoch and this video would come in handy...

[SuperStellaartois]

so am I. my title is Iris Murdoch and Truth. Wish I hadn't bothered now and got a job at McDonalds instead, ah well. What are you writing on?

[lagirasole]

I'm writing a comparative dissertation on Dostoevskii's works and her novels. I don't even have a proper title yet :)

[soursourapples]

call it 'a comparative dissertation on the works of Dostoevskii and Iris Murdoch'.

Nice and dry haha

[lagirasole]

I wish it was as funny to me :) But thanks anyway ;)

[yharyhar8]

I heard that Iris loved a quarter pounder though

[soursourapples]

hahaha

[HECTORtorrez]

What a fantastically English presentation!

[yharyhar8]

RATHERer!

[jmonroe64]

Ranting??? Wow. That's quite a stretch. Here's another word (this may be another stretch... of a different kind): PROJECTION.

[you2begin]

Hey check out kerou(.)net  He's a new cartoonist whos work borders on literature. Theres elements of genius in his work.

[CorvidaeHerald]

What a sententious douche that introduces philosophy and interviews her!

[Badgerinthenight]

its just an opinion, you dont have to like it! but its not fair for you to call people names cause u dnt like what they say.

[Badgerinthenight]

differing conversations with. I don't think he is 'ranting' at all, only merely stating his/her opinion, and whats this all about 'stop' ranting, inplying theyve done it before.. i can see no such evidence, I tihnk that people should be able to express their opinions without being had a go at and called abusive names like 'moron' or 'stubborn' as you cannot divulge a persons personality or complete intent from a little youtube messge...miggerino, i think you should try to act a little more adult

[Badgerinthenight]

I personally think that jmonroe64 makes a good point. Most everyday people who have no interest in intellectual pursuits, which accounts for in my opinion, most of the population.. the uneducated or little educated that is, do have difficulty fully grasping philosophical concepts, i know this as I have studied philosophy and my friends consist of University trained academics to working class labourers, all whom I hold in equal esteem but consequently due to their professions, I have very

[Kiarane85]

I understand so bad when Iris Talk :( But is great just to see her.

[EnglishRepublicNow]

There's an explanation for that...you're thick!

[spikearchie]

@EnglishRepublicNow

it seems to me that you are a bit of a "thicko" and your spelling is shite!

[Medicopterr117]

Bullshit!

[BrokenFrench]

actually, philosophy isn't for shallow-minded sexist idiots like you.

[miggerino]

I want to hug and kiss whoever posted all of these interviews! THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!

[818doodooroo]

@miggerino fagot 

[miggerino]

@818doodooroo I'm just gonna say, not sure how you found the Bryan Magee interviews on youtube, but perhaps Nascar clips or videos of cats licking themselves would be more up your alley. Sucka.

[818doodooroo]

@miggerino i wan PUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYYY

[jmonroe64]

It is striking how difficult it remains for people to understand what the Greeks did. There are still people who confuse philosophy with religion, science with mere curiosity, observation, and trial-and-error, and who simply refuse grasp the difference between intuitionist texts that strive for transcendance and reasoning texts that strive for clarity. Somehow the vast historical gulf that has been built out of these differences is taken to be nothing more than an exercise in re-labeling.

[MoonHoplite]

Could you please stop ranting? Most people are intelligent and reasonable enough to "grasp" history, art and science. You're talking as if you think you're the greatest and smartest, and that everyone is stupid. Maybe this is your way of achieving self-confidence, but surely, you're underestimating the world. I'll ask you sir, are you a successful and 'great' scientist or artist in any form (music, literature...)? If not, then shut up you obnoxious and stubborn moron.

[horizondreamer]

thank you for posting this videos, i'm a fervent reader of her novels, and i never saw or listened her.

[MJJLWolf]

What year is this from?

[fgrod]

Murdoch was a totally formed human - she experienced it all - her bio by Conradi is fascinating - the movie Iris was really good.

[febb42]

It is well known that western philosophy is nothing but a re-staging of eastern philosophy - 'Stolen Legacy' as one title captures it, and 'Black Athena' underscoring the fact this comes to race.

[jberghr]

I guess these days 'facts' do not actually have to be true?

[vanderbilt887]

No, it isn't. In fact, this is a highly controversial statement - in other words: it's bullshit. Sure, they were influenced by other cultures (Veda's, Upanishads etc.) but who isn't? Truth is, the Greek legacy has been on of the greatest in world history, and they invented it themselves- nothing was stolen. Bullshit such as this and, frankly, racist terms such as 'dead white european males' testify to the fact how much ressentiment and stupidity there exists on the überpolitical-correct side.

[BobTheViking24]

Heh, there's more evidence that Greek philosophy influenced Eastern. A not unsubstantial part of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition can be traced to the influence of the Bactrian Greeks.

[bahramf]

@BobTheViking24 But the Persian, Assyrians, etc. all influenced, which is to say, were copied by the Greeks.

[clepsydra9]

thank you so much for posting. best wishes. good health to all.

[paparodendro1]

Wonderful material for the n th time. Many thanks flame0430.

[Zadokor]

Plato went well beyond...

[suren1946]

the Bhagavad Gita for one. And if u read the basics of Vedanta, you.ll see obvious paralells with early greek thinkers, like Heraclitus, Parmenides, and yes, Plato.

[wittgenmarx]

It's true, but many westerners don't like that idea.They think themselves unique and without parallel,which is a comforting myth/lie.

[suren1946]

Indeed!

[suren1946]

all philosophy a footnote to Plato??

He copied almost ALL HIS STUFF from the East! What HE wrote was a footnote to THAT.

[redetrigan]

Source?

[sssswwwsssss]

You're quoting inaccurately. Magee says, "...all __Western__ philosophy is merely footnotes to Plato"

You're error here serves to show your own short-sightedness, rather than that of others.

[GordonMorrice]

It was Alfred North Whitehead who stated that, "all Western philosophy is merely footnotes to Plato."

If Plato plagiarised, he plagiarised Socrates. I have never heard it said that he borrowed from Eastern philosophy - can we have a source for this?

[sssswwwsssss]

You're back!

[jericomovie]

I was actually just writing before I logged on. lol, How timely.

I hope you have the rest of this episode. It's fascinating.

[flame0430]

The rest is uploading, it'll all be up soon!

[redetrigan]

Hehe, I like that she keeps her coat on.