International Journal of Applied Philosophy

Volume 12, Issue 2, Fall 1998

Michael S. Pritchard
Pages 147-151

Sidgwick’s Practical Ethics
From Practice to Theory

In contrast to The Methods of Ethics, Sidgwick’s Practical Ethics counsels not trying to “get to the bottom of things” in our efforts to reach “some results of value for practical guidance and life.” For Sidgwick, both practical and theoretical ethics should start from the Morality of Common Sense. Although he retained his utilitarian outlook in Practical Ethics, this paper suggests that the Morality of Common Sense has the resources to hold its own against utilitarian revision.