The Sovereignty of Good

"The Sovereignty of Good," a concept by philosopher Iris Murdoch, suggests that goodness is an ultimate, guiding truth that transcends human ideas or laws. It emphasizes that moral clarity and virtue come from an inherent, divine-like purity of goodness itself, which demands humility and moral attention from individuals. Instead of relying solely on rules or personal preferences, recognizing the sovereignty of Good encourages us to seek genuine moral understanding and moral excellence, allowing goodness to influence our thoughts and actions authentically and compassionately.