The virtues of metaphysics - A review of Iris Murdoch's philosophical writings

Iris Murdoch's moral philosophy has long influenced contemporary ethics, ye t it has not, in general, received the kind of sustained critical attention that it deserves. "Existentialists and Mystics" and "Metaphysics as a Guid e to Morals" provide new access to most of Murdoch's philosophical writings and make possible a deeper appreciation of her contribution to current tho ught. After assessing the recent critical reception of Murdoch's thought, t his review places her moral philosophy in the context of contemporary trend s in ethics by tracing her influence on the work of Charles Taylor, highlig hts the distinctive features of her moral philosophy (especially her analys is of consciousness), and suggests future directions for Murdochian ethics.