The Methods of Ethics

"The Methods of Ethics" by Henry Sidgwick is a deep exploration into the world of ethical thought. It looks at different ways people decide what's right and wrong, like focusing on personal gain, following gut feelings, or aiming for the greatest good for everyone. Instead of just telling people what to believe, the book carefully studies these methods to see how they work, where they agree, and where they clash. The beginning of the book explains that ethics is about figuring out what we *should* do using logic, not just describing how people actually behave. Sidgwick shows that thinking about ethics is complicated because there are so many different approaches, and he stresses the importance of being consistent when we use these ideas to make decisions about morality.