Reviews

Outlines of the History of Ethics for English Readers by Henry Sidgwick

clockless's review

4.0

This book is exactly what it purports to be: an outline of the history of ethics, from Ancient Greece to English ethical thought at the end of the nineteenth century. What makes it a particularly good resource is that it doesn't tackle each subject separately, but joins them together in a more flowing way, so that you can see, for instance, the transition from Aristotle to the Stoics, rather than either in isolation. It is not entirely devoid of opinion, but that would likely be impossible anyway, and I never found fault with Sidgwick's occasional criticism, but fans of particular philosophers might find something to gripe about.

On the whole, it is well worth reading if you are interested in the subject.