Iris Murdoch thought that your moral sense is your vision of the world. As you think, so you do. If your view of the world is shaped by love, you will treat other people well without having to do a lot of calculating. If your view is shaped by greed, fear or hatred, you will treat others less well.
Each of us looks at the world and sees something different. Each constructs a worldview that helps make sense of the bewildering complexity we encounter. The worldview makes assumptions about others — whether they are to be treated as equals or whether they are to be exploited, for example.
Murdoch’s point is that each of us constructs that vision of the world and each of us is responsible for it.
I’ve been enjoying a good conversation with a friend about how we make moral decisions. Most of the classical philosophical writings presume that a polis, or community, is made up of people who mostly share values. They share a common vision about the way the world works. What’s striking about this country now is the disagreement in basic visions about the way the world works. We Americans can’t even agree on whether vaccines work or whether teaching history in schools is a good thing.
• Cathy Mason, “Why love matters most”; Aeon, 12 August 2025. It’s here:
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