Cover of The Methods of Ethics

The Methods of Ethics

by Henry Sidgwick

First published
1874
Reading level
Demanding
Price
Free

About the book

"The Methods of Ethics" by Henry Sidgwick is a philosophical work first published in 1874. This landmark treatise examines how people make moral decisions, identifying three distinct approaches: intuitionism, egoism, and utilitarianism. Through meticulous analysis, Sidgwick explores whether these methods can coexist harmoniously or inevitably clash. His investigation reveals surprising compatibilities and troubling contradictions within our moral reasoning, ultimately uncovering what he calls a "dualism of practical reason" that challenges the foundations of ethical thought.

  • Ethics

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #46743. The Methods of Ethics on Wikipedia.