Biography, History, and Philosophy: Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, & Mary Midgley

Biography, History, and Philosophy: Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, & Mary Midgley

Author: Gwendolyn Dolske, PhD & Rudy Salo | Philosophy & Education Podcast November 13, 2025 Duration: 33:02

In this solo episode of Good Is In The Details, Gwendolyn Dolske, PhD explores the lives, ideas, and philosophical impact of four remarkable twentieth-century thinkers: Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, and Mary Midgley. Drawing inspiration from Benjamin J.B. Lipscomb's The Women Are Up To Something, the episode examines how these philosophers reshaped modern moral philosophy and offered a powerful alternative to earlier approaches to ethics.

Who were these four women philosophers, and why are they so influential in the history of philosophy? How did they challenge dominant ethical theories of their time? What is virtue ethics, and how does it differ from rule-based morality? Through biography, history, and philosophical reflection, this episode answers these commonly asked questions while revealing how Murdoch, Anscombe, Foot, and Midgley transformed the way we think about ethics, moral responsibility, character, and human life.

Listeners will explore:

  • the philosophical relationship between Murdoch, Anscombe, Foot, and Midgley

  • how twentieth-century moral philosophy shifted away from strict rule-based ethics

  • what virtue ethics is and why it remains influential today

  • how biography and historical context shaped their philosophical ideas

  • why these women were pivotal figures in a traditionally male-dominated field

Blending history, philosophy, and accessible explanation, this episode makes complex ethical ideas understandable and meaningful for students, educators, and curious listeners alike. Whether you are new to philosophy or deeply interested in ethics, this discussion offers insight into how moral thinking evolved — and why these thinkers continue to matter today.

Learn more about Professor Libscomb's work: https://www.houghton.edu/staff-members/benjamin-lipscomb/

Support the pod and get extra content: https://www.patreon.com/c/GoodIsInTheDetails

Get in touch: https://www.goodisinthedetails.com


Hosted by Gwendolyn Dolske, Ph.D., and Rudy Salo, Good Is In The Details operates on the belief that the most profound insights are often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be unpacked. This philosophy and education podcast doesn't just skim the surface of big topics; it lingers there, examining the nuances of how we think, learn, and ultimately live our lives. You'll hear thoughtful, meandering conversations with scholars, authors, and practitioners from diverse fields, all centered on how ideas from ethics, culture, and critical thinking intersect with our daily realities. The hosts have a knack for breaking down complex academic concepts without losing their depth, making each episode feel like an engaging seminar you can enjoy on a walk or during your commute. Rather than offering easy answers, this podcast provides the tools and perspectives to ask better questions, finding the substance in the subtleties that we often overlook. It’s for anyone who believes that understanding the framework of an argument or the history of a thought is just as important as the conclusion. Tune in for a consistently thoughtful exploration of the books, theories, and cultural forces that quietly shape our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Good Is In The Details
Podcast Episodes
Embrace the New: Ideas, Career Shifts, and Happiness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:15
Gwendolyn Dolske partners with The Modern Day Wife and explores the career shifts of women in business. What are the first steps to bringing one's idea to life? What is the disposition of the successful woman? We learn h…
BMI, Health, and the Holidays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:53
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo welcome back Rich Fahmy, MS, CPT, CWC, CES, PES (National Academy of Sports Medicine). What is BMI? How can we understand cultural attitudes around weight and diet vs health? What are some…
The Skill of Caregiving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo welcome back Dr. Kate Mangino (Equal Partners). Gwendolyn asks Kate's thoughts on a recent push to end no fault divorce in a few districts. How do ideas about marriage and divorce reflect g…
Medical Ethics and The Retrievals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
Gwendolyn Dolske talks with Dr. Kate Madorin and Dr. Kristina Tansavatdi about their thoughts on the popular podcast The Retrievals (from This American Life). How is women's pain understood and communicated? What is the…
Honor your Talent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:29
In memory of Brittany Delaney of https://www.blacktablearts.org
Encore: How to Recover Creativity and Empathy in Work Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:43
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo talk with Dr. Michaela O'Donnell about her book Make Work Matter. What can theology teach us about our approach to work? How has the pandemic shaped our ideas of work? What is the role of e…
True Crime and Society: The Black Dahlia, Media, and Human Curiosity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:41
Why are we so fascinated by true crime, and what does that say about us? In this episode of Good Is In The Details, we explore the cultural, psychological, and philosophical dimensions of true crime through one of the mo…
Does Free Will Exist? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:24
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo interview Philosophy Professor Dr. Gregg Caruso (SUNY Corning), author of Rejecting Retributivism. Free Will, Punishment, and Criminal Justice. We discuss the meaning of free will, what is…
The Philosophy of The Godfather Trilogy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:57
Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo welcome philosophers Richard Greene and Joshua Heter to discuss the film The Godfather. What philosophical lessons and ideas come through in the film? How are we to understand justice? Loya…