Iris Murdoch, Part 2

In the second talk with the late literary novelist Iris Murdoch, J. Krishnamurti encounters another brilliant mind – but one quite different from the scientists and philosophers with whom he more usually debates. In his inimitable style, he begins by putting the intellectual ball in Iris Murdoch's court. She replies by saying that she is struggling to formulate a fundamental question. This is that she thinks J. Krishnamurti feels that the idea of duty is fundamental in most moral systems. Despite the fact the philosophers argue the point, it is there for all to see. J. Krishnamurti replies that he feels 'responsibility' is a better word than 'duty' because, 'responsibility implies care, affection, a sense of communication with the other person, not doing something because you are obliged to do, or disciplined to do, or told to do, but be responsible. If I undertake to build a house, I am responsible for building a house. If I am responsible for my children, I would be responsible completely, not only until they pass out of my house, but I would see that they live properly, brought up, no killing, you follow?' As Iris Murdoch rightly sums this up, there is no limit to responsibility.. The two continue in this vein, constantly raising deeper, more challenging questions and refining them, almost as if they're whittling down the bulk of worldly thought to carve out the inner kernel of truth