Sleep With History - Bonus Episode: Sleep with Philosophy

Episode Date: October 15, 2024

Season 2 is coming soon! Meanwhile, please enjoy an episode from our sister show, Sleep with Philosophy.  | Can't wait for more episodes? Enjoy a free trial of Whisper Premium and enjoy our full range of exclusive and bonus episodes, all ad-free. Visit www.whisper.fm.Iris Murdoch (b.1919) | This time we set course for Ireland's vibrant landscapes and into the mind of Iris Murdoch. Born in Dublin in 1919, this profound thinker challenged conventional philosophies of the era, infusing them with her unique observations on morality and the human condition. We trace Murdoch's journey from her humble beginnings to her time at Oxford University, where her intellectual prowess was honed and her philosophical core solidified. We dissect the indelible mark Murdoch made on both literature and philosophical thought, intertwining them in ways unimagined before. Learn about Murdoch's rebellious intellectualism against traditional narratives, her philosophical propagation of empathetic consideration, and her unwavering determination to introduce feminine perspectives in a male-dominated arena. Discover the underlining connections between her philosophical and creative narratives and witness how she imparted a profound exploration of the human mindset, morality, and virtues through her works. Subscribe to Sleep with Philosophy, where we delve into the stimulating world of notable thinkers, their lives and their impactful ideas. 

More episodes are coming soon. Meanwhile, please enjoy an episode from our sister show, Sleep with Philosophy. Welcome to Sleep with Philosophy. Learn about the great thinkers as you drift off into a pleasant night's rest. Here is where deep thoughts and REM sleep collide. I'm Ben Neumayer, your host. Before we begin, I wish to let you know that you can find our full range of our relaxing shows covering topics such as history, psychology, science, classic books, meditations,

and much more at our website, www.wispur.fm. New episodes of this show are released weekly, but with Whisper Premium, you don't have to wait. Consider subscribing to Whisper Premium to access our entire collection of sleepcasts, bonus and extended episodes, all of which can be listened to without interruption or advertising. Sign up now to receive full early access to the current season. With the indigo hues of twilight dappling unceasingly into the dense coverlet of night, we embark on another expedition down the labyrinthine corridors of philosophy. This venture takes us back, gently unfurling us into the somewhat foggy echelons of the 20th century. Our destination is a little bit of the 20th century. Our destination

is the emerald isle, Ireland. Amidst the sweeping vistas of its societal metamorphosis, the landscape standing as an example to the tumultuous shifts rippling through the world at large, of which we are all too familiar. We turn our focus to the enigmatic philosopher, artist and thinker, Iris Murdoch, born in Quaint Dublin in 1919,

an unassuming corner of the world that, held the seed which blossomed into a formidable intellectual force. In the limelight, we place a determined forerunner in a discipline often dominated by patriarchal prominence, a silhouetted figure against the blustering winds of a turbulent era. Murdoch refused to conform to the prohibitive traditional boundaries, leveraging her distinct voice to puncture the insulated domain of philosophy, dramatically redirecting its trajectory. Her metal propelled her to challenge, with an unwavering resolve,

the dominantly male-centric philosophies prevalent in her time, opting to infuse a feminine perspective, labored with a thoughtful and penetrative understanding of the human condition. Indeed, she was more than a philosopher. She was a woman, an individual whose ideologies and thoughts were galvanized, by her life's pursuit for truth, beauty, and the understanding of what constitutes the good. It is in her birthplace that we anchor the inception of this philosophical adventure,

transcribing the birth of a phenomenal mind. The city of Dublin, noted for its literary prowess, served as the backdrop for a unique perspective and afforded the framework for Iris Murdoch's philosophical universe. From here, we trace her purpose. path to the hallowed halls of Oxford, England, where she found solace amongst cerebral and intellectual discourse, a learning landscape teeming with insightful deliberation, where she honed her philosophical prowess. We continue by delicately dissecting the marrow of her compositional genius,

immersing ourselves within the universe of her captivating novels and thought-inducing philosophical essays. It is here that we glean the intricate overlay between Murdoch's literary ventures and philosophical inventiveness. We endeavor to comb through her chronicles. Those passionate pieces of writing were the concepts of the greater good and morality were not merely postulations, but visceral narratives laden with the transmutability of ethics that could morph under differing societal landscapes. As we navigate further into Murdoch's world, we clasp onto her cerebral influence over the existentialist narratives, an influence that forcefully rebelled against inherent belief structures, molded at the hands of post-war British empiricism. Emboldened by a vision to enrich and evolve

the philosophical landscape, she engaged with profound tenacity, inciting robust conversations that encouraged receptivity toward overarching moral expansiveness. Her philosophical writings and teachings championed notions of deeper introspection that stretched the defined contours of conventional existentialism. Her offerings are imbued with insights into human nature, morality, and virtues conceived under the watchful gaze of her singular intellect. This anticipatory unveiling, however gradual, will immerse us into the contours of Murdoch's mind, the philosopher, the creative artists, and importantly, the woman. The adventure before us promises a revealing sojourn through her life's work,

intent on uncovering the deep-seated truths she tirelessly pursued, capturing the essence of her moral philosophy in all its complexity and profundity. We stand poised at the threshold of an enlightening experience, one that promises to deftly acquaint us with the world of Iris Murdoch. Iris Murdoch, born into the relatively serene landscape of Dublin in 1919, presented a unique voice to the philosophical field. She arose as an influential thinker during an era punctuated by turmoil and dynamic societal transformations, the reverberations of which were felt on a global scale.

murdock was not just a philosopher but an artist a novelist she produced not only thought-provoking philosophical works but also wove her philosophical ideas into powerful narratives in her novels she was a revolutionary figure breaking boundaries in a field dominated predominantly by male intellectuals using her unique and dexterous thought process to carve out for herself a distinct space within the discipline Oxford University provided a fertile ground for the evolution of Murdoch's intellectual muscles, proving key in the development of the creative and philosophical prowess that prevailed in her works. The centerpiece of our exploration lies in Murdoch's philosophical and literary works. Between the covers of her books, where the passion of her ink seeped into the pages, one can encounter her intellectual dalliance with themes of morality, the human condition and the concept of good.

It is within these works that one discerns the intersection of her captivating creative narrative and philosophical ingenuity. Her texts serve not just as a reflection of her personal intellectual ideas, but as an innovative space of connectivity that bridges the realm of philosophy, art, and literature in an unprecedented manner. As we plunge deeper into Murdoch's philosophic, world. We apprehend her influence on the structure of existential narratives. Shaped by the era of post-war British empiricism in which she lived, her intense contributions

were instrumental in questioning the authenticity of traditional belief structures. This intellectual revolution was fueled by her pursuit of a much broader conception of moral understanding. At the heart of Murdoch's philosophy is the intricate connections of moral psychology and metaphysics. Going against the existentialist assertations of radical human freedom, she explored instead the significance of unselfing. This process derogated the power of subjective projections onto the external world. For Murdoch, it was crucial to maintain focus on the needs of the other, which would in turn promote a clearer, more objective moral vision. irrespective of historical, societal, and political changes, the concepts that Murdoch championed

remain solidly entrenched within philosophical discourse, serving as expositions of the human struggle with morality. In order to seek a deeper understanding of Murdoch, one must delve into the depths of her numerous works, placing a particular emphasis on two of her most influential writings. The sovereignty of good and the sea, the sea. The sovereignty of good is an exquisite collection of essays, a journey towards a greater understanding of moral philosophy as perceived through the alert and expansive mind of Murdoch. In these essays, we encounter an introspective examinations

of the stark dichotomy between a fantasy world saturated with selfish attachments, ego-bound perceptions, and unchecked desire, contrasted against the enlightened vision attained through sharp and rigorous attention. Attention, according to Murdoch's philosophy, strategically veers away from the ego and into the transcendent reality of the other, imbuing it with an almost sacramental reverence. This consideration of otherness is deemed crucial to the cultivation of a morally tuned and empathetic consciousness. The Sea, the Sea, Murdoch's Booker Prize-winning novel,

lays bare the character of Charles Aroby, a prominent theater director who has retreated from his erstwhile hectic urban life, seeking seclusion in a remote seaside house to inscribe his memoirs. This novel is a profound exploration of human self-deception, illuminating the myriad ways in which obsession and self-centered desires can draft warp moral vision, leading to misconception and denial of objective reality. One recognizes through this novel how Murdoch employs the medium of fiction as an incisive tool to delineate thick layers of philosophical thought. The detailed iteration of Araby's thought processes and actions attempt to unravel the truth beneath layers of self-deception,

ultimately leading to the decomposition of ego-centered prejudice. The linkage between these two works illuminates the symbiotic relationship between Murdoch's philosophical explorations and her creative literary endeavors. It is through this confluence that she vividly presents her ideas, merging the seemingly disparate domains of philosophy and literature, thereby augmenting the potency of her thoughts. However, Murdoch did not restrict the dispersal of her thoughts on these two works alone. A prolific writer, her prodigious Uvra contains several other novels of literary distinction,

invariably interwoven with philosophical underpinnings. One such notable example is her novel, Under the Net, with its existentialist protagonist marked by his drifting pursuits and love for language. This novel, like others, utilizes the dynamic narrative medium to shed light on existential concepts, illuminating the reader's journey with philosophical poignancy. The impact of Iris Murdoch on the arena of philosophy is profound and extensive. She is an intellectual colossus whose seismic impact echoes throughout various components of philosophical discourse and beyond it into wider culture, shaping the way we perceive morality,

ethics, art, and femininity. The impact of Murdoch's seminal works has been transformative, catalyzing pivotal discussions on the relationship between literature and philosophy, thereby framing the conventional boundaries of both. Murdoch's philosophy transcended the geographical borders of her native Great Britain. It was not only the philosophical academia that fell prey to Murdoch's intellectual allure, but her ripples of influence permeated throughout society writ large, from the intellectual salons to homes of open-minded readers willing to venture into the labyrinth of philosophical discourse. Her profound exploration of thought imbued a humane and profoundly moral dimension to the philosophical realm,

moving philosophy from abstraction and into the real world. Murdoch ventured beyond the rudimentary questions that moral philosophy had been grappling with. She imbued the subject with a more nuanced approach to morality that was keenly attuned to the complex layers of the human condition. Her philosophy served as a clarion call to the field, encouraging and, an epistemic shift that veered away from narrow-minded, ego-focused considerations, instead focusing on the morally imperative necessity of attention to others. Reshaping the role of women in philosophy constitutes a pivotal aspect of Murdoch's legacy. She emerged as a dominant feminine force in a field that had been largely presided over by men.

Her audacious voice pierced the insularity of the male-dominated world of philosophy, demanding acknowledgement of female thinkers' contributions and insights. In advocating for the necessity of female voices within philosophical discourse, Murdoch helped instigating a gradual but significant shift in the gender dynamics of philosophical academia. This was not only seen by a rise in the recognition given to female philosophers, but also an increased analysis of feminist perspectives within philosophy. Murdoch's forward-thinking reframing of the role of women in philosophy has had profound and long-lasting effects on the field of philosophical inquiry. Through a thought continuum that extends from the inner circles of academia to the daily lives of common individuals,

Iris Murdoch has forever chiseled her name as a philosopher, writer, and woman of appreciable significance, leaving her distinct footprints on the sands of time. The power of her intellectual influence is not measured by her words alone, but by the thought revolution she inspired, the conversations she instigated, and the philosophical perspectives she courageously challenged and shaped. Critics have contended that Iris Murdoch's philosophical treatises are inclined towards impracticality and obfuscation. It has often been asserted that the weighty intellectual abstractness of some of her ideas

complicates the rendering of her philosophy into everyday life structures and practical morality. Critics have posited that the metaphysical framework of her philosophy, when viewed through the lens of contemporary life's diverse adversities, lacks concrete and practical guidance. And while Murdoch's work is celebrated for its exploration of moral consciousness, there are those who are perturbed by the seemingly impossibly high standards set forth by her notion of moral vision. Some have found the cornerstone of Murdoch's philosophy with its expectation of an almost ascetic commitment to self-effacement and the de-emphasizing of the ego to be not only largely impractical but teetering on the precipice of unrealistic.

Criticism has been leveled at the notion that the act of unselfing, central to Murdoch's philosophy, demands a personal abnegation that is quite antithetical to modern societal tendencies towards self-assertive. and individualism. Critics further argue that Murdoch's philosophy fails to address the pragmatic consequences and potential collateral damage of such altruistic striving. Despite such criticism, Iris Murdoch perpetuated her unique philosophical perspective with a gracious tenacity. Even in the face of criticism, she retained the spirit of a thinker whose philosophies neither fit comfortably into traditional intellectual denominations, nor made any abashed appeals to do so. Her responses to critics inadvertently amplified her belief in the untrammeled originality of one's intellectual odyssey, delineating her philosophy as both personal and passionately

universal in its application. Murdoch, exhibiting unwavering resoluteness, defended her stance by insisting on the importance of acknowledging our shared human vulnerability. The unrealistic perfection of her moral vision, she argued, was an intentional depiction to contrast starkly with human frailty. This grand ideal, she asserted, was not designed for attainability, but as a perpetual point of reference to navigate the moral landscape, the gap between reality and aspiration acting as the very crucible of moral striving. As a result, Murdoch's work stands resilient against criticism,

allowing her philosophical ethos to carry its import into present times. The distinctiveness of her philosophy, in its subjectivity, and nuanced dexterity, serves to continually provoke introspective exploration and insight. In our age of hyper-connectivity and technological saturation, Iris Murdoch's wisdom is perhaps more relevant and necessary than any other time in recent history. We find ourselves living in a vortex of an individualistic society, punctuated by narcissism and myopic pursuits. Within this whirlpool of egotistical urgencies, Murdoch's clarion call for unselfing to shift focus from the ego onto others remains a resonating

plea for sensitivity towards the wider world. Murdoch advocates that the pathway to moral progress is active and precise attention towards the other, leveraging the concept of unselfing as a bulwark against egoism. This shift in focus can lift the veil cast by our subjective judgments, allowing us to better perceive the external reality in all its unadulterated grandeur. In the age of online personas and created realities,

Murdoch's philosophy serves as a reminder of the importance of delineating the constructs of our minds from the objective reality. Her emphasis on art's transformative power is a potent remedy against the consumer-driven narratives defining artistic value today. Murdoch believe that art liberates us from the confinement of our self-created fantasies,

reframing our relationship with the world. It enhances our sensitivity to life's complexities and deepens our understanding of moral necessity. As we evaluate art with an increasingly unitarian lens, the pertinent reminder to revere art for its capacity to expose life's profundities remains a relevant and vital lesson. Given our societal moment marked by a constant discourse on gender inequalities in representation, Murdoch's Life and Work underscore a compelling feminine perspective in philosophy.

She was a strong female voice in a terrain predominantly male at the time, challenging the deeply ingrained gender bias. Her voyage of establishing herself in the philosophical realm was a significant stride in bringing the feminine voice to the fore within academia. For this, she stands as a timeless beacon, illuminating the path for future generations of women thinkers. Murdoch's influence echoes in our present-day conversations on ethics, particularly in contemporary morality's evolving discourse. She invites us to consider that our personal moral journey is, in essence. an odyssey to decanter the ego. The ripples stirred by her ideas propagate within our existential pool, inducing us to reflect upon our own morality in light of her radical proposition of unselfing.

Her profound belief in the link between art, literature, and philosophy was both revolutionary and profound. By creatively intertwining these domains, she enlivened philosophical discourses with vibrancies of narratives. Her novels were not just vessels of human stories, but carriers of philosophical wisdom. Exploring the fertile intersections of these two worlds, she imbued her works with a unique texture, making her philosophy accessible to a broader audience.

Today, Murdoch's philosophical ethos continues to bear relevance. Her warnings against selfish and self-centered thinking resonate tellingly in an era consumed by the individual. In a world where the ancient Greek aphorism know thyself has often been lost, Murdoch's insistence on rigorous self-scrutiny offers a valuable lesson for navigating our present landscapes of moral uncertainty and divisive rhetoric. Her life and philosophy, inextricably interlinked,

underscore the importance of moral perception in our everyday lives. Thank you for having joined me, through the life and philosophy of Iris Murdoch. Remember to subscribe to Sleep with Philosophy on your favorite podcast platform for more enlightening episodes. Until next time, I'm Ben Neumeir. Goodbye for now.