Abstract
The way that Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals begins may seem perplexing since it does not state in a clear way what the aims and purposes of the book are, nor does it say anything about methodology. This chapter aims to show how this peculiar opening, rightly understood, functions as an entrance to an understanding of the book as a whole, and to make clear why the opening chapter’s focus on the concept of art is the right place to start. Murdoch’s view of metaphysics is that we are always guided by a worldview, i.e. by unified images that are historical and changing. Art functions as a mirror of its time that help to bring the background of our lives and thoughts into view.
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Acknowledgements
My thanks to the editors for helpful and valuable comments. This publication was supported within the project of Operational Programme Research, Development and Education (OP VVV/OP RDE), ‘Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value’, Registration No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15_003/0000425, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic.
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Forsberg, N. (2019). Unity and Art in a Mood of Scepticism (MGM Chapter 1). In: Hämäläinen, N., Dooley, G. (eds) Reading Iris Murdoch's Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18967-9_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18967-9_3
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