The Sovereignty of Good

Synopsis

Iris Murdoch once observed: 'philosophy is often a matter of finding occasions on which to say the obvious'. What was obvious to Murdoch, and to all those who read her work, is that Good transcends everything - even God. Throughout her distinguished and prolific writing career, she explored questions of Good and Bad, myth and morality. The framework for Murdoch's questions - and her own conclusions - can be found here.

About the Publisher

Routledge

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Summary

Chapter 1: The Good Life

* Argues that a good life is one lived in accordance with virtue, which are the qualities that make us good human beings.
* Example: A person who lives a virtuous life is honest, compassionate, and responsible.

Chapter 2: The Nature of Good

* Explores the nature of good and argues that it is something objective that exists independently of our beliefs and desires.
* Example: The statement "murder is wrong" expresses an objective moral truth that is not dependent on our personal preferences.

Chapter 3: The Sovereignty of Good

* Proposes that good has supreme authority over all other values, including pleasure, power, and fame.
* Example: A person who sacrifices their wealth or prestige to help others is prioritizing good over material possessions or social status.

Chapter 4: The Subjectivity of Evil

* Argues that evil is subjective and exists only in relation to good.
* Example: Stealing is considered evil because it violates the objective moral principle of respect for property.

Chapter 5: The Problem of Evil

* Addresses the question of why evil exists in a world created by a good God.
* Proposes that evil is a necessary consequence of our freedom to choose, as we can choose to act both good and evil.

Chapter 6: The Redemption of Evil

* Examines the possibility of evil being redeemed or transformed into good.
* Argues that evil can be overcome through repentance, forgiveness, and the power of love.

Chapter 7: The Destiny of Evil

* Discusses the ultimate fate of evil and proposes that it will be ultimately defeated and destroyed.
* Example: The belief in a final judgment where evil will be punished and good will be rewarded.

Chapter 8: The Triumph of Good

* Concludes with a vision of the triumph of good over evil and the establishment of a perfect and harmonious world.
* Example: The Christian belief in the coming of the Kingdom of God, where all evil will be eradicated and all creation will be made new.