Iris Murdoch on Philosophy and Literature: Section 3

The areas in which philosophy and literature overlap are examined in this program by world-renowned author and professor Bryan Magee and Oxford novelist Iris Murdoch. Style and structure in philosophical writing are compared and contrasted with those in literature. The narrative abilities of Plato, Schopenhauer, and Kant are examined. Philosophy's predilection for accepting only literature that supports its theories is discussed as a source of antagonism between the two disciplines.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Bryan
• Magee
• Iris
• Murdoch
• Philosophy
• Literature
• Plato
• Schopenhauer
• Kant

[debevecisback]

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

[knocked44]

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

[BIGMACHAMBURGER1]

Thank you for loading these up. :)x

[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.

[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'.

[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.

[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.

[rchlboyd]

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