The Methods of Ethics — Context and Discussion

The Preface as a Methodological Blueprint

Sidgwick's preface to the first edition is more than a mere introduction; it is a methodological statement. He explicitly says his book is not metaphysical or psychological, nor dogmatic or directly practical. It does not deal with the history of ethical thought except incidentally. Instead, it is an examination of the different methods of obtaining reasoned convictions as to what ought to be done. This negative characterization helps the reader understand what the book will not do, and prepares them for a work that is systematic and analytical.

The preface also reveals Sidgwick's assumption that there is something right or reasonable to do, and that this may be known. He compares this to geometry: just as we do not need to investigate the origin of spatial cognition to do geometry, we do not need to investigate the origin of the moral faculty to do ethics. This assumption is crucial for the rest of the work.

Justice, Desert, and the Market: A Concrete Example

In the excerpt on justice, Sidgwick uses a vivid example: seeing Crœsus drowning and no one near, it would not be fair to refuse to save him except at the price of half his wealth. This example illustrates the tension between market forces and fairness. Sidgwick questions whether it is fair for any class to gain competitively from the unfavorable economic situation of another class. He notes that the market price of services depends partly on supply and demand, but that an individual's social desert should not be lessened merely by the increased number of others rendering the same service.

He also points out that the less willing bargainer has the advantage, and that the social worth of a service is not necessarily increased by the fact that it is rendered to those who can pay lavishly. These observations lead him to consider the socialistic ideal of distributing payment according to the intrinsic value of labor, but he notes the difficulty of determining that value.

The Difficulty of Measuring Value

Sidgwick raises a series of questions about how to compare the value of different services. For example, how do we compare the value of necessaries and luxuries? We may be more sensible of the enjoyment derived from the latter, but we could not have it without the former. Similarly, when different kinds of labor co-operate in the same production, how do we estimate their relative values? He asks how to compare the labor of design with that of achievement, supervision with execution, production with education, and discovery with invention.

These questions show Sidgwick's analytical method: he breaks down a concept (justice in distribution) into its components and exposes the difficulties. He concludes that these questions cannot be met by any analysis of our common notion of justice, and that a different line of reasoning is needed. This prepares the reader for the systematic examination of methods that follows.

The Role of the Hedonistic Method

Sidgwick mentions the hedonistic method in passing, noting that if we try to measure value by the amount of happiness produced, the calculation is exposed to all the difficulties discussed in Book ii. This reference signals that the book will engage with hedonistic ethics, but also that Sidgwick is aware of its limitations. The reader should expect a critical examination of hedonism, not an endorsement.

The excerpt also shows Sidgwick's willingness to consider the socialistic ideal as a closer approximation to divine justice, but only if it could be realized without counterbalancing evils. This tentative, conditional language is characteristic of Sidgwick's careful reasoning. He does not advocate for socialism; he merely notes that it would seem to give a nearer approximation, provided the rational method of determining value can be found.

As you read The Methods of Ethics, pay attention to how Sidgwick defines and delimits his subject. The preface is essential for understanding his approach. The excerpts on justice and value illustrate his method of raising concrete questions and exposing difficulties. The book is not a system of ethics but an examination of methods; expect careful analysis rather than dogmatic conclusions.