Henry Sidgwick examines the fundamental frameworks humans use to determine moral action. Rather than prescribing a single dogmatic path, the author undertakes an exhaustive comparative analysis of the three primary methods of obtaining reasoned convictions about duty: Egoistic Hedonism, Intuitionism, and Universalistic Hedonism. The text is structured around the tension between what a rational individual ought to seek for personal happiness versus what is demanded by universal moral obligations. Sidgwick begins by rigorously defining ethical judgments, discussing the nature of pleasure, desire, and the problem of free will, establishing that moral consciousness cannot be easily reduced to mere psychological utility.
He then systematically evaluates the empirical method of egoism, exposing the difficulties of calculating personal happiness and the frequent conflict between duty and self-interest. Following this, he explores the morality of common sense through intuitionism, examining specific virtues such as benevolence, justice, truth, and self-regard. He tests these common moral maxims to determine whether they possess the rigorous clarity of scientific axioms. The final section integrates intuitionism with utilitarianism, examining how general rules of conduct align with the promotion of universal happiness, while candidly acknowledging the persistent dualism between individual self-interest and the good of the whole.
