Mark Hopwood is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at The University of the South, Sewanee, USA. He has published articles on a range of topics in moral philosophy, including love, narcissism, hypocrisy, and the nature of moral judgment. With Silvia Caprioglio Panizza he is editor of The Murdochian Mind, also available from Routledge.

• Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction 1. The Standard Picture of Moral Philosophy 2. What Should a Philosophical Study of Morals be Like? 3. The Paradox of Form 4. Reading The Sovereignty of Good 5. Love, Morals, and Moral Philosophy 6. The Ontological Proof Conclusion. Bibliography Index

'This is a beautifully lucid and compelling piece of philosophical exegesis and writing. By paying close attention to what Murdoch actually says, Hopwood succeeds in lighting a path through Murdoch’s entire corpus, revealing deep continuities in her thought and method.' - Clare Mac Cumhaill, Durham University, UK'In this book, Mark Hopwood provides a clear, original and compelling interpretation of the nature and significance of Iris Murdoch’s philosophical writings. Without underestimating her resistance to systematic moral theorizing, he uncovers patterns in her way of composing specific essays and lectures that reflect her lifelong commitment to a distinctive and powerful conception of what moral reflection should be, and of how philosophers might contribute productively to it. So it offers something of real value to all moral philosophers, not just those with an interest in Murdoch.' - Stephen Mulhall, University of Oxford, UK