Iris Murdoch on Philosophy and Literature: Section 3

[BIGMACHAMBURGER1]

Thank you for loading these up. :)x

[mowavah]

Iris Murdoch was correct in her opinion that philosophy and literature should not be combined. I know that if I'm reading a novel, for instance, the story is self-contained and has a beginning, middle, and end. Because Philosophy is so dense and infinite in its view, philosophical concepts would distract from the essence of the point of the novel's story. In other words, the story of the novel is the point, not the meaning of philosophy.

[HolyFerdinand]

Iris murdoch seriously looks JUST like a turtle.

[Sirbringabel]

I would argue that Literature can serve as a means of projecting philosophical ideas to a broader audience and clarifying them (despite Murdoch's claim that Literature serves to mystify). For example one can gain a very solid understanding of Nietzsche's Ubermensch from Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment. Or, to use a more contemporary example, the idea of man in the state of nature by reading Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road'.

[rchlboyd]

Susan Boyle is so confident and intelligent ... although the footage is a little whisky for 2009 don't you think?

[BrianTheMusicMan]

Magee was in the right here I think. Dostoevsky is doing philosophy in Karamazov, you can't say Rebellion or The Devil isn't philosophical or mere idea play.

[knocked44]

Magee's greatest virtue is his willingness to debate with guests who are far more intelligent than he.

[Wittgensteinsocrates]

Hah! Who is more intelligent than Magee? Give us some examples and justify them.

[knocked44]

i could, but its the burden of *your* refutation to give and demonstrate counterexamples to my assertion.

[lady00010]

@knocked44

I'm afraid I would disagree with you, every interesting view that she politely allowed him to choose to entertain or not, he left untouched, and went on to try and be her equal, impossible task. I found the interview fascinating but mourned the numerous missed opportunities. Thank you all the same.

[owenline]

@knocked44 And how are you to quantify the answer to the question: Who, between the two (Iris or Bryan), is the more intelligent?! I'd say to that statement that M.Magee is more than capable of holding his own with the people he interviews.

[TheDavid2222]

@knocked44 You underestimate Magee's intelligence when you say that. When you read Magee's books you instantly notice how intelligent he really is. Magee is also a first rate interpreter of Schopenhauer's philosophy.

[corsarioriddim]

@knocked44 Think he might be more intelligent than his guest LOL

[lambos1985]

philosophy is found in literature; novels, for instance, raise philosophical issues; but philosophy *isn't* literature. note that literature ISNT language, for language is the core of all philosophy.

[grai]

this stuff makes me feel really thick

What year was this?

do we know if they were friends? Murdoch seems slightly irritated by him

Thanks for posting

[debevecisback]

i appreciate how magee is prepared to challenge his interviewee's opinions. it makes for a real debate.