Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol III (1901).djvu/359

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Sidgwick
345
Simpson

gularly cautious temperament, unwilling to advance without making sure of his ground, and anxious to adhere to common sense. He had been greatly influenced by the teaching of J. S. Mill, and was always opposed to mystical and transcendental methods. His 'Methods of Ethics' (1874) is intended to reconcile the utilitarian with the intuitionist theories, and to show that, properly understood, Butler and Kant may supply a rational base for the morality which, like J. S. Mill's, takes the general happiness for its criterion. He holds, however, that both are opposed to the egoistic system, the irrationality of which cannot be demonstrated without a philosophical elaboration not as yet satisfactorily achieved. Whatever the value of the conclusion, the book has stimulated thought by its candid and thorough examination of most important ethical problems. The 'Principles of Political Economy' (1883) was a product of Sidgwick's early interest in social problems. He again starts from the teaching of J. S. Mill, and endeavours by acute criticisms to get rid of the excessive rigidity of the old 'classical' economy, while showing that it embodied much sound reasoning which required to be taken into account by social reformers. Professor Marshall says that the discussion of the proper functions of government is admitted to be 'by far the best thing of the kind in any language.' His power of dealing with practical questions is shown by the memoranda which he was invited to lay before the commissions on the financial relations of England and Ireland, and upon local taxation. The 'Elements of Politics' (1891) is intended to supply the want of an adequate treatise upon the subject by starting from the old lines of Bentham and Mill. It seems to share in some degree their weakness of inadequately recognising the importance of historical methods. Sidgwick seems to have felt this, and in later years had given some lectures upon the history of political institutions. It is not known whether they are in a state for publication. He left a considerable mass of manuscript, dealing with metaphysical and other topics, of which, it is hoped, a considerable part may be published. Sidgwick contributed many articles to ' Mind,' of which he was for some time a principal supporter, and to other philosophical journals. He wrote in various reviews both upon philosophical and literary matters. He was an admirable literary critic, and his conversation often turned upon that topic. It is hoped that some of these articles may be collected.

A portrait of Sidgwick by Mr. Shannon is in the college hall at Newnham.

A meeting was held in Trinity College on 26 Nov. 1900, at which it was unanimously resolved to promote a memorial at Cambridge, though the precise form to be taken is not yet decided.

Sidgwick's works are: 1. 'The Ethics of Conformity and Subscription,' 1871. 2. 'The Methods of Ethics,' 1874; a second edition appeared in 1877, and a third in 1884; supplements to these were separately published in 1878 and 1884, giving the alterations made in the previous editions. A sixth edition is about to appear. 3. 'The Principles of Political Economy,' 1883; 2nd edit 1887. 4. 'The Scope and Method of Economic Science,' 1885 (presidential address to the economic section of the British Association). 5. 'Outlines of the History of Ethics,' 1886 (enlarged from the article 'Ethics ' in the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica,' 9th edition). 6. 'The Elements of Politics,' 1891.

[Article by the present writer in Mind for January 1900. Information was kindly given by Mrs. Sidgwick. Mr. Arthur Sidgwick, Dr. Jackson of Trinity College, Dr. Venn of Caius College, Professor James Ward, and Professor Maitland also gave information; sec also notices by the master of Christ's College in the Cambridge Review, 25 Oct. 1900; by Sir F. Pollock in the Pilot, 15 Sept. 1900; by Mr. Masterman in the Commonwealth for October 1900; by the late F. W. H. Myers in the Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research for December 1900; by Dr. J. W. Keynes in the Economic Journal for December 1900; and by Professor Sorley in the International Journal of Ethics for January 1901; and report of the meeting at Trinity College in the Cambridge University Reporter, 7 Dec. 1900. For some autobiographical statements see the Life of Archbishop Benson, i. 145-51, 249-55, and Life of Tennyson, i. 300-4. For an account of Sidgwick's activity at Newnham see Miss Clough's Memoir of Ann Jemima Clough, 1897, pp. 130, 133, 145-55, 161, 172, 181, 189, 193, 207, 319, 334, 339. See also interesting notices in the Cambridge Letter, 1900 (privately printed for the Newnham College Club).]

L. S.

SILVESTER DE EVERDON (d. 1254), bishop of Carlisle. [See Everdon.]

SIMPSON, WILLIAM (1823–1899), artist and war correspondent, was born in Glasgow on 28 Oct. 1823. His father, William Simpson (1791-1879), a native of Perth, was a marine engineer, and afterwards a mechanic in Parkholm Printfield, near Glasgow. While quite young Simpson was sent to Perth to live with his grandmother, and began his