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The Methods of EthicsHenry Sidgwick

The Methods of Ethics

by OpenStories

Original author: Henry Sidgwick

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"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.

The Methods of Ethics, by Henry Sidgwick. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #46743.

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57 Chapters

  1. 1.Preface: To the First Edition607 words
  2. 2.Preface: To the Second Edition1,650 words
  3. 3.Preface: To the Third Edition344 words
  4. 4.Preface: To the Fourth Edition218 words
  5. 5.Preface: To the Fifth Edition204 words
  6. 6.Preface: To the Sixth Edition3,301 words
  7. 7.Introduction: Pages200 words
  8. 8.Chapter III: Ethical Judgments858 words
  9. 9.Chapter III: EMPIRICAL HEDONISM (continued)383 words
  10. 10.Chapter I: Intuitionism435 words
  11. 11.Chapter IV: Benevolence133 words
  12. 12.Chapter V: Justice219 words
  13. 13.Chapter VI: Laws and Promises220 words
  14. 14.Chapter VII: Classification of Duties. Truth342 words
  15. 15.Chapter XI: Review of the Morality of Common Sense350 words
  16. 16.Chapter XIII: Philosophical Intuitionism119 words
  17. 17.Chapter XIV: Ultimate Good296 words
  18. 18.Chapter III: The Relation of Utilitarianism to the Morality of Common Sense422 words
  19. 19.Chapter V: THE METHOD OF UTILITARIANISM (continued)320 words
  20. 20.Introduction5,542 words
  21. 21.Chapter II: The Relation of Ethics to Politics3,185 words
  22. 22.Chapter III: Ethical Judgments6,044 words
  23. 23.Chapter IV: Pleasure and Desire7,408 words
  24. 24.Chapter V: Free Will7,949 words
  25. 25.Chapter VI: Ethical Principles and Methods4,555 words
  26. 26.Chapter VII: Egoism and Self-Love2,580 words
  27. 27.Chapter VIII: Intuitionism3,398 words
  28. 28.Chapter IX: Good4,332 words
  29. 29.Chapter I: The Principle and Method of Egoism1,303 words
  1. 30.Chapter II: Empirical Hedonism2,912 words
  2. 31.Chapter III: EMPIRICAL HEDONISM--Continued7,620 words
  3. 32.Chapter IV: Objective Hedonism and Common Sense3,994 words
  4. 33.Chapter V: Happiness and Duty5,608 words
  5. 34.Chapter VI: Deductive Hedonism7,451 words
  6. 35.Chapter I: Intuitionism7,263 words
  7. 36.Chapter II: Virtue and Duty5,441 words
  8. 37.Chapter III: Wisdom and Self-Control2,657 words
  9. 38.Chapter IV: Benevolence10,330 words
  10. 39.Chapter V: Justice (1)8,950 words
  11. 40.Chapter V: Justice (2)3,639 words
  12. 41.Chapter VI: Laws and Promises6,542 words
  13. 42.Chapter VII: The Classification of Duties--Veracity3,134 words
  14. 43.Chapter VIII: Other Social Duties and Virtues2,680 words
  15. 44.Chapter IX: Self-Regarding Virtues1,900 words
  16. 45.Chapter X: Courage, Humility, Etc1,855 words
  17. 46.Chapter XI: Review of the Morality of Common Sense9,678 words
  18. 47.Chapter XII: Motives or Springs of Action Considered as Subjects of Moral Judgment4,330 words
  19. 48.Chapter XIII: Philosophical Intuitionism7,393 words
  20. 49.Chapter XIV: Ultimate Good6,394 words
  21. 50.Chapter I: The Meaning of Utilitarianism2,417 words
  22. 51.Chapter II: The Proof of Utilitarianism1,680 words
  23. 52.Chapter III: Relation of Utilitarianism to the Morality of Common Sense (1)8,945 words
  24. 53.Chapter III: Relation of Utilitarianism to the Morality of Common Sense (2)5,290 words
  25. 54.Chapter IV: The Method of Utilitarianism5,746 words
  26. 55.Chapter V: THE METHOD OF UTILITARIANISM--Continued (1)8,822 words
  27. 56.Chapter V: THE METHOD OF UTILITARIANISM--Continued (2)4,896 words
  28. 57.Appendix: The Kantian Conception of Free Will9,042 words