My paper aims at reconstructing the way – still fertile and up-to-date – in which Murdoch, at the beginning of her career, conceived and practiced moral philosophy. First of all, the research in moral philosophy is devoted to a clarification of the nature of moral life: at this level, Murdoch takes position against the fact-value dichotomy, affirms our original involvement with the good and illustrates the role of imagination. Secondly, the moral philosopher explores the forms assumed by practical life in the present time: to put in order this exploration, a fundamental concept is that of social imagery. Finally, moral philosophy takes part in the symbolic conflict oriented to an understanding of the good, and enriches it by courageously forging new representations and new ethical concepts
