Customer Reviews

Outlines of the History of Ethics for English Readers

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Henry Sidgwick was an always clear writer whose perspective was deeply influenced by British utilitarianism, but was eclectic enough to see much value in other "methods of ethics" (as he referred to the basic approaches of moralists in a more famous book). In this, we get fairly accurate descriptions of a wide range of moral philosophies, along with some interesting criticisms. This is one of those books where even the footnotes are exceptionally good. (His footnote on Herbert Spencer's "associationist" approach to the origin of ethics is fascinating.)

This is a good book to read in tandem with Alisdair MacIntyre's similar short history of ethics. Both are eminently readable . . . indeed, hard to put down. Well, until finished.