Its first volume included contributions by many leading moral philosophers, including the pragmatists John Dewey and William James, idealists Bernard Bosanquet, and Josiah Royce, and the utilitarian Henry Sidgwick.

Muirhead, as part of an editorial board which also featured philosophers from Paris, Berlin, and Prague.

From its first issue in October, 1890 the journal published articles on ethics, discussions, and book reviews.

Examples include the 1891 "book review" summarizing the annual report of the Workingman's School that was being operated by the New York Ethical Society[5] and Jane Addam's 1898 report and commentary on her reformist social work at Hull House in Chicago.

[7] Thomas Vernor Smith became editor of the journal in 1932, and brought on a number of new members to the editorial committee, including Herbert James Paton, Ralph Barton Perry, and W.D.